The Barb and the Bridle

, and is a very truthful likeness of a five-year-old horse, named Prince Arthu

ion with that Eastern strain from which in all probability our magnificent British thoroughbreds deriv

county, as he has already proved himself in the manége; and, as he possesses, in addition to true and most elastic action, fine temper and indomitable cour

equally necessary. As I have before observed, the very conditions upon which the comfort and safety of a lady's riding depend, leave her horse without that support in his action which he would derive from the riding of a good man; while, however true the balance of the lady may be, still the horse's powers are ca

ustomed to him. With great power in his hind quarters (as a rule), he is short in the back, low and short in front of the saddle. The consequence is that from

l easily under the fair equestrian too often has the length in the wrong place, and cann

refore, that one has to look for symmetry of topping con

in motion. In order to impress these thoroughly upon the memory of the fair tyro

alk?-A. A pressure of the leg to his s

t; the arm being kept perfectly steady, and the

d move on?-A. Four. First, towards the waist; second, towards the hors

The upper part of the rider's figure to be slightly turned from the waist, by bringing forward the right shoulder when turning to the left and vice versa, in order to enable her to move exactly on the same

eptible easing and feeling of the bridle hand, so as

d," according to the technical meaning, it should by no means be understood that he has so delicate a mouth that he fears the action of the bit in it. On the contrary, having in his breaking been fairly b

mouth yields to the action of the rider's hand, and is

han those of a man. The truth is, that, assuming both male and female rider to be equally prac

aid of the rider, he will answer to them precisely in the same manner to a lady as he would to a man; while, on the other

l the particular attention both of young ladies commencing their lessons in equitati

at the shoulder joint and in conjunction with the forearm, the latter kept, however, close to the side, and moving easily and freely to the horse's action. The latter theory is warmly advocated by many thoroughly experienced horsemen and professors of female

ho are veterans of the cavalry manége-insist that firm

to a conclusion which is midway

be that yielding right or wrong, but gradually and imperceptibly to herself her hands will steal forward until they are eight or ten inches in front of her, the consequence being that the musc

side in the early lessons; the hands drawn back close to the waist. And, in order to make this form of ridi

s head free from the rider's control. The master will find that, despite the caution, both the pupil's hands will come forward at once; and if this action on the bridle had been executed by the horse instead of his master, the former would have gained his first step in

by all riders who wish to acquire good hands. When a horse endeavours to forereach upon the rider, the latter, instead of yielding, should close his hands firmly on the reins, and keep the arms perfectly steady, without pulling an ounce against the horse; at the same time closing his leg with equal firmness. In the next stride or two the horse will yield to the hand

roying the neatness of her riding or her power to fix her arms for a moment if the horse tries to get his head away. In short, my theory is that it is impossible for the pupil to learn the true appui, or acquire what is usually called a light hand, until she has acquired a steady one. It is easy enough to tell her to "give and take" to the cadence of the horse's action; but the precise moment at which to do this must be made clear to the learner by some well defined and easily comprehensible rule. I submit that the readiest way of defining it is that I have attempted in the foregoing. Having carefully given the above instruction, see that the pupil is sit

ial to their patience to be kept at a walk. But there can be no greater mistake than to allow them to canter a horse

the right or left, and to rein him back. And in order to make the instruction as clear and concise as possible, again, in a modif

e strongest. Now, as in the case of a lady, there is no right leg to support the horse, in turning, he is liable to lean upon the hand; the rider should close the left leg firmly, and touch him lightly on the

the pupil is moving on one line and the horse on another, and in case of his flirting the pupil is already half-way out of her saddle. Too much attention therefore cannot be given to this vital point in the aplomb for this obvious reason-if a lady once acquires the habit (which unfortunately too many do) of allowing the horse to turn without "going with him," it is quite on the cards that some day a horse, a trifle too fresh, may jump round with her. If the above principle of "going" with the horse has been thoroughly well taught her in her early lessons she will have no difficulty

though the reins were made of silken thread instead of leather, and close her leg quietly to keep him up to the hand. There should be no dead pull at the horse's mouth, but the reins should be eased at every step he takes backwards, which, if the aids are smoothly and truly applied, he will do without throwing his haunches either in or out. In the early lessons the pupil should not be allowed to rein her horse back more than two or three steps at a time. The use of reining back is to br

pass unnoticed. I repeat, the early lessons should, if anything, be a little overdone in the way of exactness, because any careless habit acquired at such a stage is most difficult to get rid of afterwards. When the pupil is thoroughly au fait at her walking lesson, she should

s. At the same moment her left foot should be disengaged by the assistant from the stirrup, and her skirt from the near-side pommel or third crutch. The lady should then drop the reins on the horse's neck, and having disengaged her right knee, turn quietly to the left in her sad

lide smoothly down from the saddle, and, slightly supported by the assistant, she will alight easily and gracefully on terra firma. Some riding masters have a fashion of taking a lady off her horse by placing both hands on her waist and allowing her to throw h