431 



CHAPTER XXI. 



RIDING DIFFICULT HORSES. 



General Remarks — Shying — Stumbling — Dancing and Prancing — Throwing up the 

 Head — Habit-shy — Jibbing — Shouldering — Backing — Pulling — Refusing 

 — Boring — Kicking — Buck-jumping — Rearing. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



As ladles are not supposed to have to ride " difficult " 

 horses, a chapter on the best means of managing such 

 animals may appear superfluous ; but even the steadiest 

 animal is apt to go wrong at times, and as forewarned 

 is forearmed, it is best for us to know how to act in 

 cases of emergency. I do not think that there exists 

 in this world an absolutely perfect horse, or faultless 

 human being for that matter, although many members 

 of both the human and equine race nearly approach 

 the ideal standard, especially among our own gentle 

 sex. A woman who rides a great variety of horses 

 finds that each of her mounts has his or her special 

 peculiarity of temper, which often sorely taxes her 

 supply of patience and tact in keeping it under control. 

 All horses, even the quietest, try to show their 

 authority when ridden by a stranger, and still more 



