BIDING WITH LADIES. 285 



haps in nine cases out of ten, and this secures his horse, 

 It was the remark of a gentleman who was, from his 

 desperate system of riding, and despite of his fine horse- 

 manship, known to have had more falls than any other man 

 during the time he hunted in Leicestershire, that nothing had 

 80 low an appearance as .that of a man running on !bot 

 over a field, calling out, " stop my horse." In case of a 

 severe fall, if surgical aid cannot be immediately obtidned, 

 drink a wineglassful of strong vinegar and water ; its revul- 

 sive effect on the circulation will delay inflammation. 



EiDiNG WITH Ladies. — If the lady with whom you are 

 to ride is a good horsewoman, and her horse is perfectly 

 trained, your responsibility is a light and pleasant one, in- 

 volving only those usual attentions in mounting and dis- 

 mounting which suggest themselves. Any unnecessary 

 interference with the lady, or her horse, or excessive solici- 

 tude for her safety, must, to a woman of good sense, be 

 annoying, and may not unfrequently be the cause of acci- 

 dents. As, however, a lady is never so well prepared, 

 from her mode of dress, natural timidity, and inferior 

 strength, for the exigences of an accident, or a contest 

 with a frightened horse, you should always be watchful 

 of her horse, without appearing to be so, especially when 

 passing vehicles or unusual objects on the road. 



If the lady be inexperienced, or her horse badly trained, 

 an increased responsibility rests upon the gentleman ; and 

 here coolness and good judgment on his part are requisite. 

 If the lady be timid he must inspire her with confidence, not 

 by ridiculing her fears, but by a quiet consideration of her 

 wishes and solicitudes, even when they are the result o^ a 

 foolish timidity. She will then receive his assuran ''.es that 

 ^* there is no danger," with a reliance upon his judgment 

 which she could not otherwise feel. 



I^ on the other hand, as is veiy often the case she be 



