202 LADIES ON HOKSEBACK* 



Sir, — Many readers of The Illustrated Sporting 

 and Dramatic News hope that Mrs. Power 

 O'Donoghue, in her very interesting letters 

 upon ''Ladies on Horseback," will touch fully 

 on the most important thing, viz. '' the ladies' 

 horse." One sees ladies riding all sorts ; some 

 too big, some too small, some good shoulders 

 and no backs, others just the reverse ; not one 

 out of twenty what it ought to be. Also, up to 

 what weight should it be ? What is the average 

 weight of ladies, and the difference in ordinary 

 dress to the habit? It is often said that, 

 owing to the peculiar seat, the weight being 

 all on one side, a lady tires a horse much more 

 than a man ; certainly you often see ladies' 

 horses going short with the near hind leg, 

 possibly from this cause. Could not the 

 weight of side-saddles be reduced? Those 

 used by the Empress of Austria could not 

 have weighed 81b., and she was herself a light 

 woman. Anything on this subject will interest 



many readers. 



I am, &c. 



Eques. 



