LEARNING TO RIDE WITHOUT STIRRUPS 



the use of stirrups. They are not able to clear 

 themselves so quickly, nor can anyone who is con- 

 versant with such matters deny that reliance on 

 stirrup-leathers is most fatal in the event of a fall. 

 The most trifling delay, be it that of a second only, 

 in freeing- the feet from the stirrups, may often result in 

 a rider being dragged or rolled over. The man who 

 has learned to ride independently of stirrups can gener- 

 ally manage to free himself from his horse, and so 

 avoid a bad accident, which he who has not so learned 

 will probably sustain. 



By the foregoing method of teaching children to 

 ride, lightness and delicacy of handling are better 

 acquired. A child instructed as I have advised 

 may certainly be reckoned upon being able to ride 

 really well in the course of four or five years. I 

 have known children who were able to ride well to 

 hounds by the time they were ten years old, and some 

 whom it would be difficult to beat at twelve years of 

 age, and whose performances fairly astonished some of 

 the best of our veteran horsemen, and these children 

 had all been taught to ride by this system. 



When they are sufficiently advanced in their educa- 

 tion, I consider that there is no better practice for 

 children than learning to ride their ponies over hurdles 

 without saddles. 



Some of the best lady riders I have ever known 

 learnt to ride by practising on donkeys over hurdles, 

 without stirrups, and often without saddles. The seat 

 and command which they thus acquired were so perfect 

 that no men could beat them, and their quickness in 

 getting clear of a fallen horse was marvellous. I 

 seldom, if indeed ever, remember one of them being 



