122 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



The first lessons should be on a horse 



which has been well trained to this work 



and requires no assistance from 



In the Ring . . 



his rider. He should inspire 

 confidence, and jump easily and surely 

 rather than brilliantly. I think it is 

 well to begin in a school over bars, as 

 there the rider is not under the neces- 

 sity of choosing a good take-off or land- 

 ing, and is thus free to give undivided 

 attention to herself. 



Three feet is high enough to put the 

 bars at the start ; or they may be even 

 Approaching lower should the rider feel 



Jump timid. As she approaches the 

 jump she must sit firmly in the middle 

 of the saddle (not hanging either to the 

 right or to the left, thereby upsetting 

 the horse's balance), and she must look 

 straight at the obstacle, with her head 

 up and her body thrown a trifle back. 

 The reins should at first be held in both 



