68 HORSEMANSHIP FOR WOMEN. 



There is also always a possibility — slight, doubtless — of 

 a lady's getting kicked or bitten when on the right ; and 

 it might be difficult for her companion, without risk to 

 her limbs, to seize her horse by the head should he be- 

 come refractory. In case of its becoming absolutely 

 necessary to take a terrified or exhausted rider off of an 

 unmanageable horse, there would probably be time for 

 her escort to cross behind her and place himself at her 

 left hand. 



Now that we are on the subject, we may give a word 

 of caution as to some other dangers of the road. 

 Among those to the rider, the most common is shying / 

 but vigilance — and perpetual vigilance will be neces- 

 sary — will reduce this to the rank of simple annoyance. 

 Get your horse past the alarming object somehow, even 

 if he has to be led ; get him up to it if you can, and 

 then pat and praise him ; never let him hurry off after 

 passing it; never whip him afterwards. 



Rearing is less common than shying, but more dan- 

 gerous from the risk of pulling the horse over back- 

 ward. To rear he must, of course, spring up with the 

 fore-le<rs, and if his intention can be divined in time it 

 may perhaps be frustrated by a smart stroke down the 

 shoulder; but an active animal is usually up before his 

 rider has had time to think, and the question is how to 

 come safe down again. To this end, on no account 

 pull on the bit, but, without letting go the rein, grasp a 

 thick lock of the mane and hold yourself with it as 



