72 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



a woman so that she loses her head. 

 Composure will best enable her 



Runaways . 



to escape without accident. As 

 the horse starts she must keep her heel 

 well away from his side and her hands 

 down, and instantly begin sawing his 

 mouth with the reins; then a succession 

 of sharp jerks and pulls should be re- 

 sorted to — never a dead pull — and pos- 

 sibly he may be brought down. 



Once well in his stride, no woman 

 can stop a horse. She must then be 

 governed by circumstances, and, if in a 

 crowd or park, try to keep him clear of 

 all objects, and not exhaust herself and 

 excite the horse by screaming. Some 

 one will try to catch him ; and as a ter- 

 rific jerk will be the result, she must 

 brace herself for it. If the horse runs 

 where there is open country, and she 

 is sure his running is prompted by 

 vice, not fright, she should urge him 



