INTRODUCTION 9 



as the authorities on all pertaining to the horse. 

 Unless we keep ourselves up to date, we shall 

 find (as we have in other branches of sport), that 

 we have been surpassed and outclassed before 

 we know it. 



The question of training horses in riding schools 

 is one which has been very much neglected in the 

 United Kingdom, and in some places may be 

 described as non-existent. Rough riders and 

 horsebreakers there are in abundance. But when 

 they have succeeded in accustoming a horse to 

 hounds, and to getting over simple fences, they 

 usually consider the education complete, and 

 pass him on to the first purchaser as soon as 

 possible. 



The fascinating study of bridling, bending and 

 balancing is frequently overlooked, and yet, what 

 a pleasure it is to ride a horse so trained, even if 

 one does nothing else beyond merely hacking along 

 a road. It is far too common to see hunters 

 trotting along a road with their noses stuck out, 

 and their necks as straight as a poker. In fact 

 I have often heard it said that "bridling" is 

 unnecessary for hunters, and all " that sort of 

 thing " can be left to riding masters and " faddists." 

 It is very unfortunate that so many people hold 

 such views. Until they have ridden a properly 

 schooled horse, they have never experienced a 

 quarter of the pleasures of riding. A friend of 

 mine, who is one of the first exponents in England, 

 was riding a very fine horse, for which he had 

 paid five himdred guineas. I asked him what he 



