REVIEW — PRACTICAL HORSEMANSHIP. 
403 
habit of riding after two different modes or fashions : one being 
that which seems to come natural to us, our indigenous or charac- 
teristic British mount ; the other, that which is taught in the riding- 
schools, the military mode of riding or sys/eme de manege. There 
exist varieties and intermediate seats on horseback between them ; 
but to one or other of these two modes of riding may be referred, 
we opine, the fundamental principles of horsemanship. All our 
mdilres de manege — the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Pem- 
broke, Berenger, &c., appear to have viewed this latter as the only 
true or proper method of riding or managing horses; and for purposes 
of the manege , for elegance, and, questionably, for military execu- 
tion, it is to be preferred. But, for ease ; for what we understand 
by “ sticking on” across country ; for advantage — through the relief 
the rider is capable of affording by it to his horse, at the time he 
himself is engaged in racing or hunting — our jockeying mode, as it 
is called, must certainly claim the priority. And this it is which 
Harry Hieover, in the work before us, has aptly denominated 
“ Practical Horsemanship.” “ Of course,” says he, “ when- 
ever and whenever horsemanship is displayed, be it of what 
sort it may, it is practical ; but I mean b}' the term to indicate 
such horsemanship as is in every-day use.” Preface, p. v. Indeed, 
it might very well go by the name of natural horsemanship ; since 
no sooner is a person who has never ridden before placed upon 
the saddle, and the horse begins to move, than up go his legs, 
and he instinctively holds fast either with his knees or his calves : 
admonished by which instinctive emotion, he takes care to have 
his stirrups taken up short before he proceeds further on his ad- 
venturous cruise. 
Seeing, then, that the manege which our forefathers regarded as 
the only true art of equitation, is, except for military and riding- 
school purposes, fast losing favour in our own country, and that in 
lieu thereof a more natural, easy, and effective horsemanship has 
come, almost universally, into vogue among us, need we feel any 
surprise that a work commendatory and instructive of such a mode 
of riding should make its appearance 1 The only surprise is that 
such a work has not occupied the press before: and to our thoughtful 
friend Harry Hieover, who has on former occasions added as well 
