6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



parents inquiring for a ''perfectly safe 

 horse for a child." 



Such a thing does not exist, and the 

 idea that it does often betrays one 

 into trusting implicitly an animal which 

 needs perhaps constant watching. If 

 fresh or startled, the capers of the most 

 gentle horse will not infrequently create 

 apprehension, because totally unexpect- 

 ed. On the other hand, if he is too 

 sluggish to indulge in any expressions 

 of liveliness, he is almost sure to re- 

 quire skilful handling and constant urg- 

 ing to prevent his acquiring a slouch- 

 ing gait to which it is difficult to rise. 



A slouching horse means a stumbling 

 one, and, with the inability of childish 

 hands to help him recover his balance, 

 he is likely to fall. 



Supposing the perfect horse to be a 

 possibility — a girl under sixteen has not 

 the physique to endure without injury 



