Riding- Ma ste rs. 329 



their right hand occupied in holding a weapon, ride in that 

 manner. If our finest steeplechase riders find that they 

 need the use of both hands on the reins, how much more 

 would ladies require that assistance. Besides, it is easier for 

 a woman to sit square, when she has both hands on the reins, 

 than when she has only one. All the riding-masters I have 

 met, firmly believe that they are competent to teach riding 

 to ladies in every stage of proficiency ; and yet we never 

 encounter riding-mistresses who assert their ability to instruct 

 men in the art of sitting on a horse. After the lady pupil has 

 got over the first difficulties about her seat, length of stirrup, 

 position and action of her legs, etc., she will be ready to learn 

 from a man how to manage her horse, regulate his paces, and 

 make him obey her wishes with precision and intelligence ; 

 but up to that point his counsels are of but little value 

 compared to those of a competent woman, who knows from 

 personal experience what he, in most cases, talks about theo- 

 retically, or at second hand. For outside work, a riding- 

 mistress has the disadvantage of her professional brother, in 

 not being able to help her pupil in difficulty as well as he 

 could do. Therefore, for thorough efficiency, the staff of 

 every riding-school in which ladies are taught, should include 

 a riding-mistress as well as a riding-master. Here again 

 comes the question of cost. If, however, persons object to 

 pay a fair price for good instruction, they have only them- 

 selves to blame, when they or their children fail to learn 

 properly. This parsimony, as regards riding, is idiotic in 

 one's own case, and culpable in that of one's children, who 

 from ignorance or wrong teaching, will be far more liable to 

 suffer from accidents than if they had been instructed in a 

 capable manner. This miserable economy, which also ex- 

 tends to horses, saddle gear, and habits, has been the cause 

 of many a young lady losing her life. 



My readers may, not unlikely, ask why I have dwelt so 

 exclusively on riding from a woman's point of view? My 

 reason for having done so is that it is far less understood 



