COERESPONDENCE. 233 



prongs, long and sharp, so, as a friend of 

 horses, I am inclined to write an objection 

 to their taking this advice. In the first place, 

 from the nature of a lady's seat, her armed 

 heel would often unintentionally irritate and 

 annoy the. horse ; and in the second place 

 many would probably use this instrument of 

 torture too severely, and therefore cruelly. A 

 rowel spur, with five long and sharp prongs — 

 in fact, a jockey's spur — is a much more 

 severe instrument than is required for ordi- 

 nary riding, either by man or woman, and 

 the advantage of the ladies' bore spur is, 

 that it can only be applied when intended, 

 and then is quite sufficiently severe. I 

 have no objection to ladies, who are good 

 horsewomen, wearing a spur, and using it, too, 

 as severely as necessary, but I have great 

 objections to any unnecessary pain or annoy- 

 ance being given to my friends, the horses. 

 Another lady correspondent of yours says 

 that a spur is quite indispensable for hunting. 

 If she means that it should always be worn 

 in case it is required, I agree ; but I have 

 ridden a courageous high-tempered horse for 



