COBEESPONDENCE. 265 



i;vhen she trots having to seek her stirrup, 

 which constantly moves her saddle, and makes 

 her as well look most awkward and one- 

 sided. 



If not trespassing too much, may I say one 

 other little word in the interest of the horses I 

 love so well ? Over and over again, lately, 

 have I seen the advice given in your paper 

 that we should never be without a spur. Now, 

 sir, if my experience can have any weight, I 

 will say that I have hunted and ridden across 

 country in all parts of Gloucestershire all my 

 young days, that I was put on horses whether 

 they or I liked it or not, both kind, unkind, or 

 violent ones, and I am thankful to say that 

 the idea of my wearing a spur never entered 

 my father's head nor mine. It seems to me 

 such an underhand way of punishing one's 

 horse — a real feminine species of torture, for 

 no one sees the dig, dig, dig, but there it is all 

 the time; and many a horse, I firmly believe, 

 comes to grief with its rider simply because, 

 not understanding its power, she taxes it 

 beyond its strength. Not one horse in twenty 

 will refuse, or need either whip or spur if he 



