140 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



well-quartered and muscled; sure-footed; free, 

 prompt, fearless, and active. He must move his 

 hocks well or he will never carry a rider comfort- 

 ably; he must lead always with the right foot in 

 the canter, and he must be up to weight well above 

 his rider's walking avoirdupois, for a woman who 

 scales, say one hundred and forty pounds, will ride 

 nearly one hundred and seventy pounds. Any little, 

 scrawny, light-framed, spindle-shanked screw, that 

 is fit for nothing else, is generally set down as a 

 " lady's horse," and the poor little wretches go 

 tottering about, lugging burdens for which they are 

 totally inadequate, until one often wonders that they 

 do not drop in their tracks and give up in despair 

 a task so far beyond their powers. Not only are 

 they overburdened, but they must handle the weight, 

 perched as it is upon one side, at a great disadvan- 

 tage, and at the expense of much effort and dis- 

 comfort to themselves. 



Everything about the costume should be severely 

 simple, smart, and well-fitting, and whatever one 

 economises on, let it not be the riding habit or the 



