INTRODUCTION. 



It has been held by some professors of the art 

 of horsemanship that it is impossible for a lady to 

 ride with as much ease and as much control of her 

 horse as a man, on account of the disadvantages of 

 her high saddle and the absence of the right leg as 

 a controlling agent ; but the result of my experience 

 has shown me that this is a mistaken opinion. Under 

 the systems according to which riding was formerly 

 taught, however, the judgment was a just one, because 

 the object to be attained was the maintenance of the 

 horse in what may be called a state of momentary 

 equilibrium, or equilibrium of the second degree, by 

 means of a double bit, curb and snaffle, aided by re- 

 peated slight pressure of the spurs. Under the more 

 modern system the double bit is often replaced by a 

 simple snaffle with one direct rein and one passing 

 through a running martingale. The results obtained 

 are more scientific and delicate, and the horse may 

 be kept in a state of sustained equilibrium, or equi- 

 librium of the first degree, in which condition he is 

 entirely under the control of the lady who knows 

 how to make a judicious use of her whip in place of 

 the absent spur. 



