LEARNING. 2] 



of an unnsnally long life, and who rode most 

 brilliantly to hounds. Few, however, could 

 do this, nor is it by any means advisable, but 

 to be able occasionally to dispense with the 

 support is doubtless of decided benefit. 



I have often found my training in this 

 respect stand me in good stead, for it has 

 more than once happened that in jumping 

 a stiff fence, or struggHng in a heavy fall, 

 my stirrup-leather has given way, and I 

 have had not alone to finish the run with- 

 out it, but to ride many miles of a journey 

 homeward. 



Nothing could be more wearisome to an 

 untutored horsewoman than a long ride 

 without a stirrup. The weight of her sus- 

 pended limb becomes after a moment or two 

 most inconvenient and even painful, whilst 

 the trot of the horse occasions her to bump 

 continuously in the saddle, — for the power of 

 rising without artificial aid would appear a 

 sheer impossibility to an ordinary rider whose 

 teaching had been entrusted to an ordinary 

 teacher. I would have you then bear in mind 

 that although I advocate practising without the 



