186 THE HORSE. 



act, however, is gently to change her whip from the 

 right to the left or bridle hand, leaving its end to 

 hang down the horse's near shoulder, hanging the 

 reins upon the upright horn of the saddle, on which 

 also she rests her right hand ; her garments clear of 

 giving any obstruction, she may then, turning a little 

 to the right, make her spring towards the assistant, 

 who is ready to break her fall. She should be careful 

 on quitting her stirrup, to keep her knee upon the 

 crutch, as a security in case of the horse starting. 

 It must be superfluous to note, that a gentleman who 

 attends a lady on horseback, rides on her near side ; 

 and that it is one of his first duties, ever to keep him- 

 self between the lady and any carriages or horsemen 

 that may be met. I have spoken against men riding 

 with a curb and single rein ; it is still more objection- 

 able for women, as keeping the horse constantly on 

 the fret, if he have a proper feeling in his mouth. 

 The woman's bridle should be double reined, bridoon 

 and moderate curb ; and for a lady's convenience, the 

 turf method may be adopted, of sewing the curb 

 reins together at a proper length, in which state if 

 dropped from the hand they can always be recovered 

 in an even state. Females riding at a speedy trot, 

 are accustomed, indeed necessitated, to rise, or hitch, 

 in the male style, which, however, has somewhat of 

 a ludicrous appearance. 



I crave pardon of two young ladies for thus defer- 

 ring honourable mention of them, as devotees of the 

 goddess Diana. Miss Catharine Arden, I am in- 

 formed, is regular at the Melton hunt ; and Miss. H. 

 of Staffordshire, not only hunts, but sees the end of 



