86 The Art of Biding. 



pleasure or health, and in either case the exercise 

 should occupy his whole attention. I have often 

 heard the remark that there is no pleasure in 

 riding if you have to pay close and constant 

 attention to your horse. This is absurd on the 

 face of it. What pleasure can be experienced in 

 anything in which the mind does not participate r 

 1 would ask. And if riding is resorted to for health, 

 surely the end is worth the exertion. But it is 

 not a matter that admits of any argument. If a 

 man would ride safely he must pay unremitting 

 attention to his steed. 



A good rider always has his horse under 

 control, no matter at what pace he may be going ; 

 and even at the expense of repeating myself I 

 must insist on this again and again. It is as 

 essential when walking as when galloping that his 



