1 88 EASE 



Ease. General Sir Robert Baden-Powell 

 kindly advised me as follows : — 



" Letting men sit side-saddle on a tired 

 horse is the easiest way of giving it a sore back. 

 At walking gait it is far better for the rider to 

 dismount and walk. The loup or lobbing 

 canter is the easiest pace for man and horse. 

 Except a continuous walk, the round trot is 

 the most tiring. Frequent cantering and 

 walking alternately — the rider then going on 

 foot — ^is the way to get over the ground in 

 going a long distance." 



The above note is one of high authority as 

 applying to English equipment ; but I found 

 it received with a certain lack of respect by 

 men using a weight-distributing saddle. We 

 all sit side-saddle when we please, or more often 

 ride on one thigh or the other. None of us 

 have seen sore back except with lean or ex- 

 hausted horses, worn out saddlery, or in cases 

 of gross neglect. 



The range man does not look upon riding as 

 a formal parade, but likes to practise circus 

 tricks, or lounge at ease while he smokes, reads 

 a -book, sings, or plays some musical instru- 

 ment. I have seen the cowhand wile away 

 the time by eating a quart of pickles. For my 

 part, a luncheon from the wallets is part of the 



