132 HORSEMANSHIP FOR WOMEN. 



PART IV. 



BUYING A SADDLE-HORSE. 



The opening of the horse-market is not announced 

 to ladies by cards of invitation, though such an innova- 

 tion on the old-fashioned methods might prove a great 

 success in the hands of a skilful dealer. Nevertheless, as 

 soon as spring opens, all over the United States, ladies are 

 ''shopping" for horses, but by no means in their usual 

 jaunty and self-confident way, for their eyes, which do 

 them such good service at the silk or lace counter, take 

 on a timid and hesitating expression in the presence of 

 this unwonted problem. The acquisition of a saddle- 

 horse by a young girl is usually a long and complicated 

 operation, in the course of which her hopes are alter- 

 nately raised and depressed day by day, to be at last 

 very likely disappointed altogether. It often begins at 

 breakfast- time, somewhat in the following fashion : 

 "Dear papa, don't you think I might have a saddle- 

 horse this season ? Eleanor B 's uncle has given her 



a beauty, and we could ride together ; and you know 

 that is just the sort of exercise the doctor said would be 

 good for me." The father hesitates, and few fathers 



