THE HORSE. 183 



The canter I have represented as the most dan- 

 gerous pace, unless the horse be a naturally safe 

 goer, and not tender footed. This becomes periodi- 

 cally a touching subject to me, in regard of my left 

 knee, the tendon and ligaments, though the accident 

 occurred such a number of years since. A recent 

 and very dangerous accident happened to Lady Eli- 

 zabeth Belgrave, in Cheshire; her horse dropping 

 down suddenly in his canter, her Ladyship was taken 

 up insensible, and apparently much hurt, though by 

 good fortune, no fracture was discovered. The high 

 estimation and regard in which she was held in the 

 vicinity, was fully demonstrated by the general 

 anxiety felt and expressed during the time she re- 

 mained in an uncertain state : happily, this has been 

 removed by her Ladyship's arrival in town, fully con- 

 valescent. 



To put a lady on horseback. I formerly 

 adopted the rules of my old acquaintance Charles 

 Hughes the riding master, and there seems little 

 variation in them since his time; to do the thing 

 completely, requires the ministry of two persons, the 

 gentleman who attends the lady, and the groom. 

 One person only being present, steps are necessary. 

 The lady for divers reasons, should not approach her 

 nag from behind, but from his head,^ or directly to 

 his shoulder, and the stirrup. He should be ren- 

 dered still and quiet; the servant standing immedi- 

 ately before the horse, should hold him either by the 

 checks of the bridle, or with the bridoon rein in each 

 hand, near the horse's mouth. The lady then, alt 

 being right respecting her clothes, places her shoul- 



