INTRODUCTION. XI 



practising that which he has acquired by 

 observation or through instruction. The 

 general rules of the art are the results 

 of ages of experiment, and it is doubt- 

 ful whether a man would ever, by 

 his unaided efforts, reach any great 

 proficiency in riding. One may con- 

 sider himself to be self-taught; but the 

 fact is that nearly everything he knows 

 about riding is derived from imitating 

 those who have in some way gained a 

 knowledge of proper usages, and after- 

 wards by deducing natural sequences 

 from these established rules. 



If the pupil is fortunate enough to 

 have the personal instruction of a 

 skilled master, he will, perhaps, learn 

 more rapidly than by following the 

 precepts of a book. But he is much 



