20 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



my foot ever remained caught, even in the 

 most dangerous falls. 



I conceive it to be an admirable plan to 

 learn to ride without a stirrup at all. Of 

 course I do not mean by this that a lady should 

 ever go out park-riding or hunting sans the aid 

 of such an appendage, but she should be 

 taught the necessity of dispensing with it in 

 case of emergency. The benefits arising from 

 such training are manifold. First, it imparts 

 a freedom and independence which cannot 

 otherwise be acquired ; secondly, it gives an 

 admirable and sure seat over fences ; thirdly, 

 it is an excellent means of learning how to 

 ride from balance ; and fourthly, in spite of 

 its apparent difficulties, it is in the end a 

 mighty simpHfier, inasmuch as, when the use 

 of the stirrup is again permitted, all seems, 

 such marvellously plain sailing, that every 

 obstacle appears to vanish from the learner' s^ 

 path. In short, a lady who can ride fairly 

 well without a support for her foot, must, 

 when such is added, be indeed an accompHshed 

 horsewoman. I knew a lady who never made 

 use of a stirrup throughout the whole course 



