188 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 



discovered. Sometimes it is very hard to find 

 them, and then when trying to cut them off, it 

 would be very easy to make a mistake. Under such 

 circumstances the hairs should be pulled, but 

 generally speaking, it is simpler, better, and less 

 painful to the horse to use scissors. 



Riding for Children 



One hears it so often said that it is necessary 

 to start riding young to become a really first-rate 

 horseman, that it is apparent that this idea must 

 be widely and generally accepted. Speaking per- 

 sonally, I do not hold this view. After many 

 years' experience in a cavalry regiment, I have 

 seen many officers join, some who have ridden 

 from their youth up, and some who have never 

 seen a horse before. Of the two, I prefer those 

 who have never ridden to those that have ; they 

 are easier to teach, and have no bad habits to 

 unlearn. And whatever advantage the " expe- 

 rienced " recruit officer possesses at the outset 

 quickly vanishes as the training progresses. So 

 that, certainly as far as my experience goes, it is 

 clear that riding as a youth is not essential to 

 good horsemanship. But I go much further than 

 that. I consider that it is, if not actually harmful, 

 it may be productive of much more evil than 

 good. If boys were always taken out under highly 

 qualified instructors, it might not be so bad. But 

 many children are taken out under the care of a 

 groom whose instruction is not only worse than 



