AMATEUR HORSE-TRAIXIXG. 11 



horses quite as good as the average of those at city rid- 

 ing-schools, but which they are never allowed to mount. 

 They look wistfully at the honest animals, longing 

 for the exercise which would be so beneficial to their 

 health and to their physical development, while so de- 

 lightfully exhilarating to their spirits; but one horse is 

 pronounced "skittish," another "hard-mouthed," and so 

 on to the end. Nevertheless, some enterprising damsel 

 manages to overcome all opposition, and, skirted, hatted, 

 gloved, sets off in fine spirits. The horse, accustomed 

 to the resistance of a heavy vehicle, moves forward with 

 slow and heavy strides. Urged to greater speed, he rolls 

 his shoulders so that it is almost impossible to rise to his 

 trot. When put to the canter he pounds along the road, 

 his hind-feet kept far in the rear and his head swaying 

 up and down, while, missing the customary support of 

 the bearing-rein, he all the time leans his heavy head 

 on his rider's delicate arm, till it seems as if she would 

 be pulled out of the saddle. However, the fresh open 

 air is there, and the scenery ; exercise, too, in plenty, 

 and the pleasure of independent movement, so that our 

 heroine is half inclined to persevere. But, alas ! an 

 equestrian party on well -bitted, light -stepping horses 

 sweeps by, casting a pitying glance at her rustic mount 

 and helpless plight. Mortified and discouraged, she goes 

 home and dismounts, determined not to try again. Nev- 

 ertheless, her horse is very likely quite as good as theirs, 

 and all he wants is a little " handling," as the horsemen 



