SOME RULES OF HORSEMANSHIP 
Standing close to the horse the left foot should 
be inserted in the stirrup, the ball of the foot 
resting upon it, the pernicious fashion of 
thrusting the foot home in the stirrup being 
at all times foolish and dangerous and particu- 
larly so for the beginner. Simultaneously with 
placing the foot in the stirrup a spring should 
be given from the right foot sufficient to place 
him in the saddle. In riding, the muscles of the 
thighs should be employed, as well as the 
knees, to give to the rider his “‘seat,”’ by which 
is meant ability to remain down in the saddle, 
and by which every good horseman is dis- 
tinguished. Arms tight to the side, toes in, 
parallel with the horse’s sides, the right hand 
hanging loosely, body erect, but not too stiff 
in the saddle, perseverance and continued 
practice will, in most instances, make a good 
rider. Some men can never learn to ride well 
and for them it can only be said that they 
did not begin early enough. When oppor- 
‘tunity is afforded, every boy should learn to 
ride. 
The woman beginner should be furnished 
with a gentle, sure-footed, easy-gaited horse. 
Broken-down, good-for-nothing animals, the 
only redeeming feature of which being their 
inability to run away, should never be assigned 
to a woman, but, strange to say, this is often 
the case. : 
The woman beginner’s instructor should be 
particularly careful that she be not frightened. 
Let him stand at the horse’s withers facing 
the quarters. With the right hand for a step 
he lifts her into the saddle, she giving a light 
spring from her right foot simultaneously with 
placing her left foot in the step thus impro- 
vised. Having *adjusted and arranged her 
habit and made sure that the stirrup-leather 
is of the right length and that the reins are held 
correctly, start off at a walk, the woman on 
the off, or right, side. This is a mooted point, 
but is given emphatically for the following 
reasons : The woman is thus farthest from 
all passing vehicles which may be met during 
the ride; her instructor or companion has 
his free right hand nearest her in case of need, 
and as her face and body are necessarily 
turned partially toward him, conversation can 
be much more pleasantly carried on. Soon she 
will gain confidence, and having once become 
sure of her seat, and the novelty of the situation 
having worn off, she often becomes absolutely 
459 
fearless, even under the most trying circum- 
stances. She should sit in the center of the 
saddle, inclining neither to the right nor left. 
The reins should always be held in the left 
hand, the right hand only being thus em- 
ployed when temporarily necessary to assist 
in checking too free an animal. What is 
termed the seat, that is the ability to remain 
down in the saddle, is only acquired through 
practice. The third pommel, now in general 
use on all side saddles, materially aids in this 
respect, as well as affords much greater safety 
to the equestrienne. Riding cannot be taught 
or learned theoretically ; it will become per- 
fect, or nearly so, in proportion to the exercise 
thus taken, and what is a prettier sight than a 
beautiful woman on a handsome horse well 
handled and well ridden by her? Riding 
astride has recently become the mode, although 
not adopted by many ladies. It is in reality 
the safest and most sensible method and it is 
here predicted that it will eventually come into 
popular favor. 
There are several distinct schools of riding. 
Whoever has seen a race knows that a jockey’s 
school differs materially from all the others 
and that it is far from elegant or graceful, 
although he ‘“‘gets there all the same.” Feet 
thrust home in the very short stirrups, hunched 
back, arms far forward and ability to stick 
describes it. The cowboys vie with the In- 
dians of the plains (the best horsemen in the 
world) in imitating the Centaurs of mythology, 
but both would be at as great a loss as to how 
to conduct themselves in a game of polo as 
would the jockey or the polo player in attempt- 
ing to lasso and pull down a wild Texas steer. 
The military school is that which prescribes 
the long stirrup, the depressed heel, the light 
hand and the stationary seat, and no finer mili- 
tary riders can be found than those in our own 
regular cavalry regiments. 
To follow too closely any particular school 
of riding is unwise in the man or woman who 
rides only for exercise and pleasure. The good 
features of each and all should be tried and 
adopted. It is folly to imitate too closely, for 
example, the military school, where rising in the 
stirrups is prohibited, on a flat English saddle, 
on a hard trotter. Adaptability in this, as in 
other exercises and pastimes, should be aimed 
at, but certain rules herein set forth must inva- 
riably be followed. 
QF 
