ETIQUETTE IN THE SADDLE. 



105 



preserved at the trot, the canter, the gallop, to say noth- 

 ing of incidental shying and capering? There is only- 

 one answer to this question, and that is — practice. But 

 even practice is nsually not sufficient without an ac- 

 companiment, infrequent and not always pleasant, w^., 

 frank and unflattering criticism ; and every one who 

 really wishes to excel, and to merit the praises which as 

 woman she is certain to receive, will see to it that this 

 wholesome corrective is often at hand. Practice itself, 

 to be profitable, must be intelligent, and the cause of 

 any discomfort from the motion of the horse should be 

 sought out and removed. It will be found almost al- 

 ways to result from involuntary muscular contractions, 

 especially of the waist, which should invariably be kept 

 supple, as it is to a slight play of loin and thigh that 

 the rider must look to prevent being thrown up by each 

 spring of the hind-legs in cantering or galloping. 



In rising to the trot, bear outwardly with the left 

 heel, which will keep the knee close against the saddle, 

 and prevent the leg from swaying about. At the same 

 time be careful not to rise towards the left — an awkward 

 but very common liabit, which can be detected by the 

 plan already suggested of sighting between the horse's 

 ears. Mr. Sidney says, " The ideal of a fine horse- 

 woman is to be erect without being rigid, square to the 

 front, and until quite at home in the saddle, looking 

 religiously between her horse's ears. The shoulders 

 must therefore be square, but thrown back a little, so as 



