l86 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



horse has been fed, or his digestion will 

 become impaired, as would hers under 

 similar circumstances. After mounting, 

 it is always well, by a light hold of the 

 snaffle, to make a horse walk a short 

 while ; it is most annoying to have him 

 start with a series of plunges or an in- 

 clination to bolt. 



If he is so fresh that he will not walk 

 without restraint likely to irritate him, 

 perhaps spoiling his temper for the rest 

 of the ride, it will be better to let him in- 

 dulge in a brisk trot, after which he may 

 be brought back to a walk. The next 

 time, if having had more work, he will 

 walk at first, while had his mouth been 

 jerked the previous time, or a fight en- 

 sued, he would remember it, and pre- 

 pare for a repetition of the perform- 

 ance. 



A horse should not of his own will 

 be allowed to change his gaits, but his 



