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CHAPTER XIII. 



RIDING WITHOUT REINS. 



Undoubtedly the best and quickest way for a lady 

 to learn to ride well is the one which I shall now 

 describe, and which I believe I have been the first to 

 practise. 



Before putting up the pupil, it is well to teach the 

 horse the work he has got to do, which should be 

 performed, if possible, in an enclosure not less than 

 1 7 yards in diameter : 20 yards would be a better size. 

 The track should be soft. A thick, smooth snaffle 

 having been put on, the leather reins are taken off, 

 and others (the best are of ''circular" or "pipe" 

 webbing, i^^ inches broad) about 22 feet long are 

 substituted. If circular webbing cannot be obtained, 

 ropes or ordinary leather reins, if of the proper length, 

 will do. The animal is made to circle round the driver 

 by the outward rein (the left rein if he is going to the 

 right) passing round his quarters, while the inward rein 

 (the right in this case) leads him off and bends him in 

 the direction he has to go (Fig. 105). The horse 

 should be made to circle in a thoroughly well-balanced 



