200 FIRST LESSONS IN RIDING. 



tlon to this matter, especially if the riding instructor is 

 a man, because a girl would naturally be disinclined 

 to mention any personal ailment to him. Whoever 

 the teacher may be, he or she should always humour a 

 nervous pupil, and not, as many do, start with the idea 

 of getting her "shaken into her seat," at the risk of 

 ruining her riding nerve for ever and causing her to 

 loathe her lessons. If a pupil during her first trotting 

 lesson suffers from nervousness, it is best to discon- 

 tinue the trot and finish the lesson at the walk, in 

 order to settle her nerves and not frighten her out of 

 her w^its. Her next trotting lesson should be com- 

 menced at the walk, and an occasional efTort be made 

 to trot a short distance, so that she may gradually 

 obtain the necessary confidence, and an encouraging 

 word should always be given her when she does 

 well. 



THE CANTER. 



After the pupil has mastered the difficulties of the 

 trot, she will appreciate the enjoyable motion of an 

 easy canter, which is the lady's pace par excellence. 

 In the canter a horse should lead with his off fore leg, 

 except when he is turning or circling to the left, and a 

 beginner should be given a horse or pony which has 

 been trained to canter correctly. As the majority of 

 horses are not taught to start from a walk to a canter, 

 the pupil should proceed at a smart trot, and, while 

 holding the reins somewhat slack, turn her horse's 

 head slightly to the left, and touch him on the right 



