12 INTRODUCTION. 



weight falls upon either extremity. Thus 

 another objection to the system is ground- 

 less. 



To kick a horse along and to pull him 

 to the right or to the left by sheer force, 

 is,- to a certain extent, riding, and I sup- 

 pose will satisfy the requirements of most 

 horsemen, but it is not the highest stand- 

 ard of horsemanship, and the more it is 

 improved upon the better for the horse 

 and his rider. 



I think that it Is a mistake to place 

 children of tender age upon horseback, for 

 there is nothing to be gained In such a 

 course that will compensate for the risk 

 of injuries they may receive. An active 

 man may learn to ride well at any age ; 

 and a bold boy of fourteen, who compre- 

 hends the system upon which he is taught, 



