RUNNING AWAY. 231 



may happen during the course of a ride to try the nerve 

 of both horse and rider, but if anything should startle 

 a horse, his rider should keep her head cool, sit tight, 

 and do her best to pull him up. She will have doubt- 

 less accustomed him to the meaning of the word 

 '' steady," or other verbal order which she may have 

 employed when slackening speed. This word, accom- 

 panied by a steady and vigorous pull on the reins, 

 should succeed in stopping him before he has had time 

 to get up much speed. If, however, a lady finds she 

 cannot pull him up, she should try to turn him to the 

 left, as that will be the easier, supposing, of course, 

 she has sufficient room in which to turn. If not, she 

 should saw his mouth with the bit by working it from 

 side to side. The groom, or attendant, should on no 

 account gallop after her, as doing so will only tend to 

 make the lady's horse go all the faster. I remember 

 riding a very hard puller belonging to Mr. Wintle, of 

 Shanghai. One day this animal bolted with me, and 

 the stupid native viafoo behind galloped on after me. I 

 managed to stop the animal by turning him to the left, 

 and pointing his head away from the homeward direc- 

 tion in which we were proceeding, but I was greatly 

 hampered by my mount hearing the footfalls behind 

 him. The native groom was frightened, and no doubt 

 thought he could help me, which he could best have 

 done by pulling up. I cannot too strongly impress on 

 all ladies who ride the necessity of using a safety-bar 

 on their saddles (p. 38), and wearing a safety skirt, even 

 when hacking ; for a sudden cause of fright may make 



