THE " DUTCHMAN'S RIDING-DAY." 163 



During their sojourn in Lerwick they invariably de- 

 vote a day to the enjoyment of equestrianism. ; and the 

 '"Dutchman's riding-day," as it is called, presents some 

 truly amusing features. " Dozens of those Shetlanders 

 who have horses," says Mr. Kerr, " assemble, steeds in 

 hand, on a piece of ground above the town, and thither, 

 too, betake themselves the horsey portion of the Dutch- 

 men for twopence worth of equestrianism which consists 

 of a gallop out for half a mile or so and back again. For 

 the most part women and boys are in charge of the 

 steeds, with every conceivable kind of halter, from the 

 decent leather to the old and apparently rotten rope ; 

 some with saddles and stirrups, some with saddles but 

 without stirrups, some with an unambitious piece of 

 coarse cloth or straw mat. Here a great tall fellow goes 

 up to a very little pony, pays his twopence it is always 

 prepaid and prepares to mount. But how is he to get 

 the sabot, with a point like the prow of his own buss, 

 into the stirrups ? It certainly can't be done. Off go the 

 sabots a shake is all that is necessary and he gets into 

 the saddle. At first he grasps only the bridle ; but as 

 the pace quickens and it soon does that, for he means to 

 have his twopence worth you see his hand slip round to 

 the back part of the saddle and take a firm hold. This 

 is all very well, but the saddle itself is shaky, and the 

 pony's back short, so he must have more leverage by 

 grasping the tail. There, now, he's all right ; but the 

 motion is neither graceful nor easy, and his hat flies off. 

 This was expected, for the woman or boy in charge fol- 

 lows behind, for the double purpose of increasing the pace 

 by whipping, and picking up anything that may be shaken 

 loose. And now that he gets towanis the end of his rido, 



