248 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



he should give it up so long as he can sit a horse 

 and the exercise is not too exhausting. Remember 

 what Lord Palmerston said : " The best thing for 

 the inside of a man is the outside of a horse." And 

 it is so ; there is no exercise that so aids digestion, 

 none which more completely takes the cobwebs 

 out of the brain. A man who takes up horseback 

 riding in middle life need not expect to become as 

 accomplished say as his son who began at twelve ; 

 but if he will give his mind to it he will be apt to 

 do very well and will surely get from it both 

 pleasure and profit. I know a lady who did not 

 take up horseback riding until she was a mother. 

 I have seen her in the hunting field since she be- 

 came a grandmother sailing along as gaily as a 

 bird, and even taking a tumble with the serene 

 amiability of a youth in small clothes. But she 

 has found the fabled spring. 



That every rider will sooner or later have a fall 

 is inevitable. Therefore when the first one comes 

 there should be no discouragement, even to a 

 man of middle age. Many falls are prevented 

 when a horse stumbles by gathering the horse, 

 and assisting him to regain his footing. But often. 



