LEARNING. 25 



thing stiff or stereotyped is to be avoided. 

 A good rider, such as we hope you will soon 

 become, will change her reins about, and 

 move her position upon the saddle, so as to 

 be able to watch the surrounding scenery — 

 always moving gracefully, and without any 

 abrupt or spasmodic jerkings, which are just 

 as objectionable as the poker-Hke rigidity 

 which I wish you to avoid. How common it 

 is to see ladies on horseback sitting as though 

 they were afraid to budge a hair, ynth 

 pinioned elbows and straightly-staring eyes. 

 This is most objectionable ; in fact, nothing 

 can be more unsightly. A'graceful, easy seat, 

 is a good horsewoman's chief characteristic. 

 She is not afraid of tumbling off, and so she 

 does not look as though she were so ; more- 

 over, she has been properly taught in the 

 commencement, and all such defects have 

 been rectified by a careful supervision. 



With regard to your whip,Jt must be held 

 point downwards, and if you have occasion to 

 touch your horse, give it to him down the 

 shoulder, but always with temperance and 

 kindly judgment. I once had a riding- 



