238 RIDING WITHOUT REINS. 



manipulation of the reins and whip. As a rider can 

 manage a horse in a moment of danger twice as well 

 with two hands as with one, it is impossible for her to 

 become a fine horsewoman if she acquires the fatal 

 habit of clutching hold of the saddle, which she in- 

 evitably will do the instant she feels insecure in her 

 seat, or becomes nervous, if she be that way afflicted. 

 To guard against this evil, the learner should be 

 taught to ride in a modern English saddle, which, as 

 we all know, has got no off pommel. 



By allowing her body to be perfectly lissom from 

 the waist upw^ard, she will be able to conform to the 

 movements of the horse, and will not feel herself 

 violently jerked from side to side by any quick turn or 

 untoward movement he may make. If she stiffens 

 her body and assumes an awkward position in her 

 saddle, she will find herself, on the animal being 

 sharply turned, unable to retain her seat with ease. 

 As it is difficult, even for an accomplished horse- 

 woman who is not accustomed to riding without reins, 

 to do this w^hen mounted on a light-mouthed horse, 

 and without a signal from the driver of his intention 

 to turn sharply in the trot or canter to " right '' or 

 "left" as the case may be; the pupil, until she 

 has acquired the knack of conforming to every 

 movement of the animal, should receive due warn- 

 ing from the driver. When he signifies his inten- 

 tion to turn the horse, she should grip the crutches 

 with her legs, and incline her body in the direction 

 to be taken by her mount. By watching the animal's 



