138 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



anxious expressions, as they approach the mounting- 

 block and despairingly scan the advancing candi- 

 date for a location upon their poor old ridge-poles, 

 afford one many a regretful moment of retrospec- 

 tion. It is an extraordinary thing that one can 

 imagine for an instant that he or she can really 

 learn to ride in such a length of time. 



True, one may secure balance and assurance 

 enough to prevent falling off, but that is not riding 

 by a good deal. As the Frenchman replied to his 

 instructor who directed him to " trot on! " — " Mais 

 noil, man ami, niais non — doiicement, doUcement. 

 If he walk, jc suis ici — if he tr-r-rot, I do not 

 remain!" Even so the average graduate from a 

 twenty-lesson course " remains " purely through the 

 courtesy of her mount, and journeys along the roads 

 and bridle-paths, an ever-impending menace to traffic 

 of all kinds, and to herself as well. Such an one 

 would admit that it would be idiotic to expect to play 

 the violin in twenty lessons, yet will idly argue that, 

 because she has spent twenty hours at horse exercise, 

 she is qualified to perform upon a most difficult 



