ETIQUETTE IX THE SADDLE. 91 



the relative merits of crop and whip, there is room for 

 difference of opinion. By many persons the former is 

 looked upon as a senseless affectation of English ways, 

 but the fact is that with a horse regularly trained to the 

 saddle it is more useful than a whip, as by its aid a lady 

 can "collect" her horse — that is, can make him bring 

 his hind-le^s under him, in the same way that a man 

 does by the pressure of his calves. If, however, the 

 horse has never been trained, and is sluggish or wilful, 

 a whip may be more useful. Whichever of the two 

 produces the better results will have the more " work- 

 manlike" look and be in the " better form." 



THE MOUNT, 



It is undoubtedly much pleasanter and more exhila- 

 rating to ride a good and handsome horse than a poor 

 and ugly one, a horse adapted to one's size and weight 

 than one too large or too small, too heavy or too light; 

 but none of these points are matters of etiquette. On 

 this whole subject etiquette makes only one demand, 

 but that one is inexorable — it is perfect neatness. A 

 lady's mount must be immaculate from ear to hoof, in 

 coat and mane and entire equipment. It is in a great 

 degree their exquisite neatness that gives such an air of 

 style not only to English horsewomen, but to English 

 turn-outs of all kinds, which, nevertheless, have not 

 usually the "spick and span new" look of fashionable 

 American equipages. On coming out, therefore, pre- 



