ETIQUETTE IX THE SADDLE. 107 



enough to observe the horse's action, the motion of his 

 feet, and the regularity of his step. 



ON THE ROAD. 



If good-nature is the quality most essential to mount- 

 ing in a pleasing manner, that which will cause a lady 

 to shine most on the road is kindness. Such a state- 

 ment will perhaps bring a smile to the lips of some 

 dashing girl who thinks that she has other means of 

 pleasing, once mounted on a spirited horse, than the 

 practice of any of the Christian virtues ; but the writer, 

 after many years' experience with amazones both young 

 and old, believes it to be literally true. A lady who, 

 without weakness, is gentle and thoughtful, will have, 

 other things being equal, more sympathetic obedience 

 from her horse, a finer hand, a more supple seat, and 

 will bring him back fresher and her whole party home 

 in better spirits than one who is not. To begin with, 

 there is almost always one of the horses which is not 

 equal to the others, but keeps up with difficulty, and as 

 it is precisely that horse which should set the pace for 

 the rest, it is well to observe the capacity of the differ- 

 ent animals, and spare the feelings of any one of the 

 party who may be poorly mounted. One might hardly 

 suppose it necessary to mention so elementary a rule of 

 politeness as that which bids us, when we ride in com- 

 pany, not to keep always in the best part of the road ; 

 but horses are sometimes selfish as well as human be- 



