326 Among Men and Horses. 



After his death, his son proved to be a worthy successor, 

 and has certainly been one of the most distinguished riding- 

 masters we have had in England for the last fifty years. He 

 had the honour of teaching the Empress of Austria and a 

 great number of royal and imperial princes and princesses. 

 Although he has retired from active work now, he is often 

 called to instruct members of the imperial family in Austria, 

 where he is a great favourite. He is a thorough good horse- 

 man, and is a man of charming manners and great tact. 



After we had finished our series of lectures, we received so 

 many applications from ladies for lessons, that we thought it 

 advisable to make an arrangement with the Wards for the hire 

 of their school at the hours required. As we charged a 

 guinea a lesson, our clientele was composed chiefly of wealthy 

 people. The progress made by our pupils under our novel 

 method of instruction was so remarkable that I would not 

 venture to say how fast it was, if I were not able to give sup- 

 porting evidence, which is furnished by the following extract 

 from the Queen (17th June, 1893) : ' I made the acquaintance 

 of the authoress of The Horsewoman one morning in Ward's 

 manege, where I went to see two little friends taking their rid- 

 ing lesson from her. It was a novel and pretty sight. Mrs 

 Hayes has inaugurated a method of instruction hitherto un- 

 practised, and which must recommend itself to anyone who 

 sees the extraordinary progress which accompanies it. The 

 children are dressed in gymnastic costume, and it was the third 

 time only that they had been put on a horse — a large horse it 

 was too, and as patient and kindly as it is possible to be. 

 The first thing Mrs Hayes teaches is how to sit. By the 

 pupils wearing no skirt, she can see at a glance whether the 

 position of the legs is right, and this is all important. 



' By the time I saw the children they were galloping gaily 

 round and round, with radiant faces and flying hair, sitting 

 better into the saddle, even at this early stage, than many a 

 woman who considers herself a complete rider. They are not 

 allowed to hold the reins ; the hands lie in the lap, holding 



