THE SADDLE-HORSE 



the American character. Much time, patience, 

 and money must be expended upon the animal to 

 make him as perfect in his work as he should be, 

 and for this scientific labor the buying public are 

 not willing to pay prices fairly remunerative to 

 trainers. 



Again, the average American equestrian is not 

 himself sufficiently proficient to ride a really 

 highly educated horse, as his impulsive nature 

 will not allow him to expend the time or money 

 necessary for competent instruction, and its ac- 

 companying adequate practice. As a consequence 

 his seat is generally insecure, his hands of course 

 of the worst ; while of the proper aids to the art 

 he has not the faintest conception, and further- 

 more generally takes vast pride in his ignorance. 



Hands — that delicacy and pliability of touch 

 which is so necessary for the proper performance 

 of all equestrian evolutions, are absolutely depen- 

 dent upon a secure and elastic, properly balanced 

 seat, and to this there is no royal road but that 

 of constant rehearsal under competent supervision. 

 The riding schools will teach any one to " remain " 

 upon a steady old school slave in a course of from 

 fifteen to thirty lessons, and with this the average 

 citizen is satisfied. 



