294 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



and to use it when necessary in preference to 



the whip. 



I am, &G. 



SouTHEEN Cross. 

 December, 1880. 



Sir, — Since I have come to London I have 

 been asked so many questions respecting the 

 reason why ladies so offcen *'pull their horses," 

 that I feel I may accomphsh some good by 

 answering, or may at least assist in doing 

 away with a very crying evil. My opinion is 

 that there is usually but one reason, viz. 

 because the horses pull them ; but for a 

 woman to pull against a pulling horse only 

 increases the evil. It is a fallacy, and can 

 never accomplish the desired end. A deter- 

 mined puller cannot, under any circumstances^ 

 be suitable to a lady, and should never be 

 ridden by one, unless she be a sufficiently 

 good rider and have sufficiently good hands 

 to make the horse's mouth, which is not the 

 case with one woman in five hundred, or, I 

 might almost say, one man either. Horses 

 that pull have been almost invariably spoilt 



