,transcriber's ,note  ,a number of      
typographical errors have been          
maintained in this version of this book4
 ,they have been marked with a  and a   
description may be found in the complete
 list at the end of the text4 ,irregular
 and non-standard spelling has been     
maintained as printed4       ,,lectures 
,,on   ,,horsemanship1    ,wherein is   
,explained   ,,every   ,,necessary      
,,instruction   ,,for ,,both   ,,ladies 
,,and ,,gentlemen1   ,in the ,useful and
 ,polite   ,,art ,,of ,,riding1   ,,with
   ,,ease1 ,,elegance1 ,,and ,,safety1  
,,by ,t4 ,s4   ,professor of            
,horsemanship4     ,,london3   #agic4   
,,lecture ,,on ,,horsemanship4  ,address
 to the ,audience4     ,,ladies ,,and   
,,gentlemen4  ,permit me to observe that
 the ,horse is an animal1 which1 from   
the earliest ages of the world1 has been
 destined to the pleasure and services  
of ,man2 the various and noble qualities
 with which nature has endowed him      
sufficiently speaking the ends for which

 he was designed4  ,mankind were not    
long before they were acquainted with   
them1 and found the means of applying   
them to the purposes for which they were
 given3 this is apparent from the       
,histories and traditions of almost all 
nations1 even from times the most       
remote2 insomuch that many nations and  
tribes1 or colonies of people1 who were 
entirely ignorant1 or had but very      
imperfect notions1 of other improvements
 and arts of life2 and even at this     
day#c-99 are unacquainted with them1 yet
 saw and understood the generous        
properties of this creature in so strong
 a light as to treat him with fondness  
and the greatest attention1 sufficiently
 to declare the high opinion they       
entertained of his merit and excellence2
 nay in various regions1 and in the most
 distant ages1 were so far from being   
strangers to the many services of which 
the ,horse was capable1 as to have left 
rules and precepts concerning them1     
which are so true and just1 that they   

have been adopted by their successors2  
and as all art is progressive1 and      
receives additions and improvements in  
its course1 as the sagacity of man at   
different times1 or chance and other    
causes happen and concur3 so that having
 the ,ancient's foundation to erect our 
building1 it is natural to suppose that 
the structure has received many beauties
 and improvements from the experience   
and refinement of latter times4  ,it is 
generally supposed that the first       
service in which the ,horse was         
employed1 was to assist mankind in      
making war1 or in the pleasures and     
occupations of the chase4 ,xenophon1 who
 wrote three hundred years before the   
,birth of ,christ1 says1 in an express  
treatise which he wrote on              
,horsemanship1 that ,cyrus hunted on    
,horseback1 when he had a mind to       
exercise himself and horses4  ,herodotus
 speaks of hunting on ,horseback as an  
exercise used in the time of ,darius1   
and it is probably of much earlier date4

 ,he particulatly mentions a fall which 
,darius had from his horse in hunting1  
by which he dislocated his heel3 these  
and thousands of quotations more1 which 
might be produced as proofs of the      
utility of the ,horse1 in remote ages1  
are truths so indisputably attested that
 to enlarge farther upon it would be a  
superfluous labour1 and foreign to my   
present undertaking4   ,,on ,,mounting  
,,your ,,horse4  ,first we will suppose 
your horse properly saddled and bridled4
 ,take your ,bridoun-rein 7if you have  
,bit and ,bridoun7 your right-hand1     
shifting it till you have found the     
center of the rein2 then with your      
switch or whip in your left-hand1 place 
your little finger between the reins1 so
 that the right rein lies flat in your  
hand upon three fingers1 and your thumb 
pressing your left rein flat upon the   
right1 keeping your thumb both upon     
right and left rein1 firm upon your     
fore-finger2 and in this position you   
ease your hand a little and slide it    

firmly down the reins upon your horse's 
neck1 taking a firm hold of a lock of   
his mane1 which will assist you in      
springing to mount3 remember that when  
you attempt to mount1 that your reins   
are not so tight as to check your horse1
 or to offend his mouth1 so as to cause 
him to rear1 or rein back1 but that your
 action is smooth and light as possible4
  ,your horse being firmly stayed1 you  
next take your ,stirrup-leather in your 
,right-hand1 about four inches from the 
stirrup-iron1 and fix one third of your 
foot in the stirrup1 standing square    
with your horse's side2 next take a firm
 hold with your right hand on the       
,cantlet or back part of the saddle1    
rather on the off side of it1 and with  
your left knee prest firm against the   
horse's side1 spring yourself up        
perpendicularly1 bending the small of   
your back and looking chearfully up     
rather than down4 ,the next move you    
make is to remove your right-hand from  
the ,cantlet and place it firm upon the 

,pummel1 or front of your saddle1       
bearing your weight upon it1 at the same
 time bend your right knee1 and bring   
your body round1 looking strait over    
your horse's head1 letting yourself     
firmly and easily down into your seat1  
with the shoulders easily back1 bent    
well in your waist or loins1 and your   
chest well presented in front1 with a   
pleasant uncontracted countenance4  ,you
 of course next recover or take your    
switch1 which is done by putting your   
right-hand over your left1 and with a   
quick firm motion take it in your right 
hand1 holding the same perpendicularly4 
,proceed us next to the adjusting the   
,reins1 which is of the utmost use4     
,supposing you ride with ,bit and       
,bridoun1 being four in number1 place   
them all even and flat in your left     
hand1 exactly in the same manner as     
described in taking the ,bridoun in     
mounting2 that is to say1 your four     
reins placed even1 the one upon the     
other1 remembering always to place your 

,bridouns on the outsides1 so that you  
may any time lengthen or shorten them at
 pleasure1 without putting the whole    
into confusion1 and cause the ,bit to   
act alone1 or ,bridoun alone1 or both   
,bit and ,bridoun to act together4  ,i  
have observed before that only your     
little finger should be between the     
reins when only two1 it is the same now 
four1 so now your two reins on the right
 side of your horse's neck lie flat upon
 your three fingers in your left-hand1  
your two left reins placed flat upon the
 right1 and your thumb pressed flat upon
 all four4 ,this is the only sure method
 to keep your reins firm1 free from     
confusion1 and to cause them to act     
properly2 which any lady or gentleman   
will be convinced of if they will only  
give themselves the pleasure to         
practise1 as ,i cannot call it a        
trouble4  ,if it should be demanded why 
the horse would not ride as well with   
only the ,bridoun1 without the ,bit8 my 
answer is that suppose your horse       

becomes hard and heavy in hand1 on being
 rode by both ,bit and ,bridoun1 where  
they have both acted together3 you on   
this shorten your ,bit-reins whereby    
they act alone the ,bridouns becoming   
slack1 your horse instantly becomes     
light in hand1 as though touched by a   
magick stick1 reining his neck properly1
 is immediately light before1 gathers   
himself upon his haunches1 and what     
appeared1 but now a garronly sluggish   
beast wears the appearance of a well    
dressed horse4  ,well and thorough broke
 horses with mouths made fine and to    
answer the nicest touch of feeling1 are 
in general rode by the ,bit alone1 the  
,bridouns hanging loose and seem more   
for ornament than use2 but yet in the   
hand of a skillful horseman are of the  
greatest utility2 for by handling your  
right ,bridoun-rein lightly with your   
whip hand at proper times2 you can      
always raise your horse's head if too   
low1 you may take the liberty of easing 
your ,bit-reins at times1 so that       

playing upon his mouth1 as it were an   
,instrument of musick1 you will always  
keep his mouth in tune4 ,i cannot find a
 juster simile than1 that the ,horse is 
the ,instrument and the ,rider the      
,player2 and when the horse is well     
broke and tuned properly1 and the rider 
knows how to keep him in that state1 he 
is never at a loss to play upon him2 but
 if suffered to go out of tune1 by the  
want of skill in the horseman1 and to   
imbibe bad habits1 the horseman not     
being able to screw him up1 and tune him
 as before3 the ,instrument is thrown by
 as useless1 or may be sold for a       
trifle1 and by chance falling into able 
hands1 that know how to manage and put  
him once more together2 he again becomes
 as good as ever3 and this ,i have often
 been a witness to4 ,thus much for the  
adjustment of the ,reins in the ,hand4  
,,the ,,horseman',s ,,seat3  ,the       
principles and rules which have hitherto
 been given for the horseman's seat are 
various1 and even opposite1 according as

 they have been adopted by different    
masters1 and taught in different        
countries1 almost by each master in     
particular2 and every nation having     
certain rules and notions of their own4 
,let us see1 however1 if art has        
discovered nothing that is certain and  
invariably true4--,the ,italians1 the   
,spaniards1 the ,french and1 in a word1 
every country where ,riding is in       
repute1 adopt each a posture which is   
peculiar to themselves3 the foundation  
of their general notions is the same1   
but each country has prescribed rules   
for the placing the man on the saddle4  
,this contrariety of opinions which have
 their origin more in prejudice than in 
truth and reality1 has given rise to    
many vain reasonings and speculations1  
each ,system having its followers2 and  
as if truth was not always the same1 and
 unchangeable1 but at liberty to assume 
various and even opposite shapes2       
sometimes one opinion prevailed1        
sometimes another1 insomuch that those  

who understand nothing of the subject1  
but yet are desirous of being informed1 
by searching it to the bottom1 have     
hitherto been lost in doubt and         
perplexity4  ,there is nevertheless a   
sure and infallible method1 by the      
assistance of which it would be very    
easy to overturn all these systems2 but 
not to enter into a needless detail of  
the extravagant notions1 which the ,seat
 alone has given rise to2 ,i will here  
endeavour to trace it from principles by
 so much the more solid1 as their       
authority will be supported by the most 
convincing and self evident reasons4    
,in order to succeed in an art where the
 mechanism of the body is absolutely    
necessary1 and where each part of the   
body has its proper functions1 which are
 peculiar to that part2 it is most      
certain that all and every part of the  
body should be in a natural posture3    
were they in an imperfect situation they
 would want that ease and freedom which 
is inseparable from grace2 and as every 

motion which is constrained being false 
in itself1 and incapable of justness1 it
 is clear that the part so constrained  
and forced would throw the whole into   
confusion2 because each part belonging  
to and depending upon the whole body1   
and the body partaking of the constraint
 of its parts1 can never feel that fixed
 point1 that just counterpoise and      
equality1 in which alone a fine and just
 execution consists4  ,the objects to   
which a master1 anxious for the         
advancement of his pupil1 should attend1
 are infinite4 ,to little purpose will  
it be to keep the strictest eye upon all
 the parts and ,limbs of his pupil's    
,body2 in vain will he endeavour to     
remedy all the defects and faults which 
are found in the posture of almost every
 scholar in the beginning1 unless he is 
intimately acquainted with the close    
dependance and connexion there is       
between the motions of one part of the  
body with the rest2 a correspondence    
caused by the reciprocal action of the  

muscles1 which govern and direct them3  
unless1 therefore1 he is master of this 
secret1 and has his clue to the         
labyrinth1 he will never attain the end 
he proposes2 particularly in his first  
lessons1 upon which the success of the  
rest always depend4 ,these principles   
being established we may reason in      
consequence of them with clearness4  ,in
 horsemanship1 the ,body of man is      
divided into three parts2 two of which  
are moveable1 the third immoveable4     
,the first of the two moveable parts is 
the ,trunk or ,body1 down to the ,waist2
 the second is from the ,knees to the   
,feet2 so that the immoveable part is   
between the waist and the knees4 ,the   
parts then which ought to be without    
motion are the ,fork1 or ,twist of the  
horseman1 and his thighs2 now that these
 parts should be kept without motion1   
they ought to have a certain hold and   
center to rest upon1 which no motion    
that the horse can make can disturb or  
loosten2 this point or center is the    

basis of the hold which the horseman has
 upon his horse1 and is what is called  
the ,,seat2 now if the seat is nothing  
else but this point or center1 it must  
follow1 that not only the true grace1   
but the symmetry and true proportion of 
the whole attitude depend upon those    
parts of the body that are immoveable4  
,let the horseman then place himself at 
once1 upon his ,twist1 sitting exactly  
in the middle of the saddle2 let him    
support this posture1 in which the      
,twist alone seems to sustain the weight
 of the whole body1 by moderately       
leaning upon his buttock4  ,let the     
,thighs be turned inward1 and rest flat 
upon the sides of the saddle2 and in    
order to this let the turn of the thighs
 proceed directly from the hips1 and let
 him employ no force or strength to keep
 himself in the saddle1 but trust       
entirely to the weight of his body and  
thighs2 this is the exact equilibrio3 in
 this and this only consists the        
firmness and support of the whole       

building2 a firmness which young        
beginners are never sensible of at      
first1 but which is to be acquired1 and 
will always be attained by exercise and 
practise4 ,i demand but a moderate      
stress upon the buttocks1 because a man 
that sits full upon them can never turn 
his thighs flat to the saddle2 the      
thighs should always lay flat to the    
saddle1 because1 the fleshy part of them
 being insensible1 the horseman would   
not otherwise be able so nicely to feel 
the motions of his horse3 ,i insist that
 the turn of the ,thigh must be from the
 ,hip1 because it can never be natural1 
but as it proceeds from the hollow of   
the hip bone4  ,i insist farther that   
the horseman never avails himself of the
 strength or help of his thighs1 except 
he lets his whole weight rest upon the  
center1 as before described2 because the
 closer he presses them to the saddle1  
the more will he be lifted above the    
saddle on any sudden or iregular motion 
of the ,horse4  ,having thus firmly     

placed the immovable parts1 ,i now pass 
on to the first of the ,movables1 which 
is as ,i have already observed the body 
as far as to the waist4 ,i comprehend in
 the ,body1 the ,head1 the ,shoulders1  
the ,breast1 the ,arms1 ,hands1 ,reins  
and ,waist of the ,horseman4  ,the head 
should be free1 firm and easy1 in order 
to be ready for all the natural motions 
that the horseman may make in turning to
 one side or the other4 ,it should be   
firm1 that is to say1 strait1 without   
leaning to the right or left1 neither   
advanced nor thrown back2 it should be  
easy because if otherwise it would      
occasion a stiffness1 and that stiffness
 affecting the different parts of the   
body1 especially the back bone1 the     
whole would be without ease and         
constrained4  ,the shoulders alone      
influence by their motions that of the  
breast the reins and waist4  ,the       
horseman should present or advance his  
breast1 by that his whole figure opens  
and displays itself2 he should have a   

small hollow in his reins1 and push the 
waist forward to the pommel of the      
saddle1 because this position           
corresponds and unites him to all the   
motions of the horse4  ,now only        
throwing the shoulders back1 produces   
all these effects1 and gives them       
exactly in the degree that is requisite2
 whereas if we were to look for the     
particular position of each part        
seperately and by itself1 without       
examining the connection that there is  
between the motions of one part with    
those of another1 there would be such a 
bending in his reins that the horseman  
would be1 if ,i may so say1 hollow      
backed2 and as from that he would force 
his breast forward and his waist towards
 the pommel of the saddle1 he would be  
flung back1 and must sit upon the rump  
of the horse4  ,the arms should be bent 
at the elbows1 and the elbows should    
rest equally upon the hips2 if the arms 
were strait1 the consequence would be1  
that the hands would be too low1 or at  

too great a distance from the body2 and 
if the elbows were not kept steady1 they
 would of consequence1 give an          
uncertainty and fickleness to the hand1 
sufficient to ruin it for ever4  ,it is 
true that the ,bridle-hand is that which
 absolutely ought to be steady and      
immoveable2 and we might conclude from  
hence1 that the left elbow only ought to
 rest upon the hip2 but grace consists  
in the exact proportion and symmetry of 
all the parts of the body1 and to have  
the arm on one side raised and advanced1
 and that of the other kept down and    
close to the body would present but an  
aukward and disagreeable appearance4    
,it is this which determines the        
situation of the hand which holds the   
whip2 the left hand being of an equal   
heighth with the elbow2 so that the     
knuckle of the little finger1 and the   
tip of the elbow be both in a line1 this
 hand then being rounded neither too    
much nor too little1 but just so that   
the wrist may direct all its motions1   

place your right hand1 or the whip hand1
 lower and more forward than the bridle 
hand4 ,it should be lower than the      
bridle hand because if it was upon a    
level with it1 it would restrain or     
obstruct its motions2 and were it to be 
higher1 as it cannot take so great a    
compass as the bridle hand1 which must  
always be kept over against the         
horseman's body3 it is absolutely       
necessary to keep the proportion of the 
elbows1 that it should be lower than the
 other4  ,the legs and feet make up the 
second division of what ,i call the     
moveable parts of the body3 the legs    
serve for two purposes1 they may be used
 as aids or corrections to the horse1   
they should then be kept near the sides 
of the horse1 and in a perpendicular    
line with the horseman's body2 for being
 near the part of the horse's body where
 his feeling is most delicate1 they are 
ready to do their office in the instant 
they are wanted4 ,moreover1 as they are 
an apendix of the thighs if the thigh is

 upon its flat in the saddle1 they will 
by a necessary consequence be turned    
just as they ought1 and will infallibly 
give the same turn to the feet1 because 
the feet depend upon them1 as they      
depend upon the thighs4  ,the toe should
 be held a little higher then the heel1 
for if the toe was lowest the heel would
 be too near the sides of his horse and 
would be in danger of touching his horse
 with his spurs at perhaps the very     
instant he should avoid such aid or     
correction4  ,many persons              
notwithstanding1 when they raise their  
toe1 bend and twist their ankle as if   
they were lame in the part4 ,the reason 
of this is very plain2 because they make
 use of the muscles in their legs and   
thighs1 whereas they should only employ 
joint of the foot for this purpose1     
,such is in short the mechanical        
disposition of all the parts of the     
horseman's body4  ,these ideas properly 
digested the practitioner will be able  
to prescribe rules for giving the true  

and natural ,seat1 which is not only the
 principles of justness1 but likewise   
the foundation of all grace in the      
horseman1 of course1 the first endeavour
 of those who wish to become horsemen1  
should be to attain a firm and graceful 
seat3 the perfection of which1 as of    
most other arts and accomplishments     
depend upon the ease and simplicity with
 which they are executed1 being free    
from affectation and constraint as to   
appear quite natural and familiar4      
,therefore the immoveable parts as      
before observed ought to be so far      
without motion as not to wriggle and    
roll about so as to disturb the horse1  
or render the seat weak and loose3 but  
the thighs may be relaxed to a certain  
degree with propriety and advantage1    
when the horse hesitates and doubts     
whether he shall advance or not2 and the
 body may likewise1 upon some occasions1
 become moveable and change its posture 
to a certain degree1 as when the horse  
retains himself1 it may be flung back   

more or less as the case requires2 and  
consequently inclined forward when the  
horse rises so high as to be in danger  
of falling backwards2 what keeps a ship 
on the sea steady8 ,,ballast1 by the    
same rule1 what keeps the horseman      
,,steady8 trusting to the weight of his 
body3 it is for this reason that        
beginners are first made to ride without
 stirrups2 for were they allowed to use 
them before they had acquired an        
equilibrio and were able to stretch     
their legs and thighs well down1 so as  
to set firmly in the saddle1 and close  
to it1 they would either loose their    
stirrups by not being able to keep their
 feet in them2 or the stirrups must be  
taken up much too short1 in which case  
the rider would be pushed upwards from  
the saddle1 and the ,seat destroyed     
throughout2 as the parts of the body    
like the links of a chain depending upon
 one another1 safety likewise requires  
they should ride without them at first1 
as in case of falling tis less          

dangerous4  ,it is the general practice 
of those who undertake to teach         
horsemanship1 when they put a scholar   
upon a horse1 to mix and confound many  
rules and precepts together1 which ought
 to be distinct and seperate2 such as   
making him attend to the guidance of the
 horse1 demanding an exactness of hand1 
and other particulars1 which they croud 
upon him before he is able to execute1  
or even understand half of them4 ,i     
would recommend a slower pace at first  
being likely to gain more ground at the 
ending post1 and not to perplex the     
scholar with ,aids1 of the effects of   
the ,hand1 and more nice and essential  
parts of the ,,art3 till the ,,seat is  
gained and ,,confirmed4  ,for this      
purpose let the seat alone be cultivated
 for some time1 and when the scholar is 
arrived at a certain degree of firmness 
and confidence so as to be trusted1 ,i  
would always advise the master to take  
hold of the longeing rein and let the   
pupil intirely leave the governing of   

his horse to him1 going sufficiently to 
both hands holding his hands behind him4
  ,this will1 ,i insist upon it very    
soon settle him with firmness to the    
saddle1 will place his head1 will       
stretch him down in his saddle1 will    
teach him to lean gently to the side to 
which he turns so as to unite himself to
 his horse and go with him and will give
 that firmness ease1 and just poize of  
body1 which constitute a perfect ,seat1 
founded in truth and nature and upon    
principles so certain1 that whoever     
shall think fit to reduce them to       
practise will find them confirmed and   
justified by it4 ,nor would it be       
improper to accustom the scholar to     
mount and dismount on both sides of his 
horse1 as many things may occur to make 
it necessary1 as well as that he cannot 
have too much activity and address1 for 
this reason tis a pity that the art of  
,vaulting is discontinued4--,and there  
is another duty too essential to be     
omitted1 but hitherto not performed by  

matters1 which is to instruct their     
pupils in the principles and theory of  
the ,art1 explaining how the natural    
paces are performed1 wherein they differ
 from each other1 and in what their     
perfection consists2 which1 by not      
joining theory with practice1 are       
unknown to many1 who may shine in a     
menage1 but work as mechanically and    
superficially as the very horse thay    
ride4  ,having thus far said what with  
practice will be sufficient to form the 
seat of the ,horseman1 ,i shall next    
endeavour to describe the use of the    
bridle hand and its effects1 c4   ,,of  
,,the ,,bridle ,,hand4  ,the knowledge  
of the different characters1 and        
different natures of horses1 together   
with the vices and imperfections1 as    
well as the exact and just proportions  
of the parts of a horse's body1 is the  
foundation upon which is built the      
theory of the art of horsemanship2 but  
this theory will be useless and even    
unnecessary if we are not able to carry 

it into execution4  ,this depends upon  
the goodness and quickness of feeling2  
and in the delicacy which nature alone  
can give1 and which she does not always 
bestow4 ,the first sensation of the hand
 consists in a greater or less degree of
 fineness in the touch or feeling2 a    
feeling in the hand of the horseman1    
which ought to communicate and answer to
 the same degree of feeling in the      
horse's mouth1 because there is as much 
difference in the degrees of feeling in 
men as there is in the mouths of horses4
  ,i suppose then a man1 who is not only
 capable to judge of a horse's mouth by 
theory1 but who has likewise by nature  
that fineness of touch which helps to   
form a good hand2 let us see then what  
are the rules which we should follow in 
order to make it perfect1 and by which  
we must direct all its operations4  ,a  
horse can move four different ways2 he  
can advance1 go back1 turn to the ,right
 and to the ,left2 but he cannot make   
these different movements except the    

hand of the ,rider permits him1 by      
making four other motions which answer  
to them2 so that there are five         
different positions for the hand4 ,the  
first is that general position from     
which proceed the other four4  ,hold    
your hand three inches breadth from your
 body1 as high as your elbow1 in such a 
manner that the joint of your           
little-finger be upon a right line with 
the tip of your elbow2 let your wrist be
 sufficiently rounded so that your      
knuckles may be kept directly above the 
neck of your horse2 let your finger     
nails be exactly opposite your body1 the
 little finger rather nearer to it than 
the others2 your thumb quite flat upon  
the reins1 separated as before          
described1 and this is the general      
,position4  ,does your horse go         
forwards1 or rather would you have him  
go forwards8 yeild to him your hand1 and
 for that purpose turn your nails       
downwards1 in such a manner as to bring 
your thumb near your body1 and your     

little-finger then from it1 and bring it
 to the place where your knuckles were  
in the first position4 ,keeping your    
nails directly above the neck of your   
horse4--,this is the second ,position4  
,would you make your horse go backwards1
 quit the first position2 let your wrist
 be quite round1 your thumb in the place
 of the little finger in the second     
position1 and the little-finger in that 
of the thumb1 turning your nails quite  
upwards1 and towards your face1 and your
 knuckles will be towards your horse's  
neck4--,this is the third ,position4    
,would you turn your horse to the       
,right8 leave the first position2 carry 
your nails to the right1 turning your   
hand upside down1 in such a manner that 
your thumb be carried out to the left1  
and the little-finger brought in to the 
,right4--,this is the fourth ,position4 
,lastly1 would you turn your horse to   
the ,left8 quit again the first         
position1 carry the back of your hand a 
little to the left1 so that the knuckles

 come under a little1 that your thumb   
may incline to the right1 and the       
little-finger to the left4--,this makes 
the fifth ,position4  ,these different  
,positions1 however1 alone are not      
sufficient2 we must be able to pass from
 one to the other with readiness and    
order4  ,three qualities are necessary  
to the hand4 ,viz4 ,,firm1 ,,gentle1 and
 ,,light3 ,i call that a firm hand1 or  
steady hand whose feeling corresponds   
exactly with the feeling in the horse's 
mouth1 and which consists in a certain  
degree of steadiness1 which constitutes 
that just correspondence between the    
hand and the horse's mouth1 which every 
horseman wishes to find4  ,an easy or   
gentle hand4 ,i call that which1        
relaxing a little of its strength and   
firmness1 eases and mitigates the degree
 of feeling between the hand and horse's
 mouth1 which ,i have already described4
  ,lastly1 the light hand is that which 
lessens still more the feeling between  
the rider's hand and the horse's mouth1 

which was before moderated by the       
,,gentle ,,hand4  ,the hand1 therefore1 
with respect to these properties must   
operate in part1 within certain degrees1
 and depends upon being more or less    
felt1 or yeilded to the horse1 or       
with-held4  ,it should be a rule with   
every horseman not to pass from one     
extreme to another2 from a firm hand to 
a slack one2 so that in the motion of   
the hand on no account jump over that   
degree of sensation which constitutes   
the ,,easy ,,or ,,gentle ,,hand3 were   
you once to go from a firm strong hand  
to a slack one1 you then entirely       
abandon your horse2 you would surprise  
him1 deprive him of the support he      
trusted to1 and precipitate him on his  
shoulders2 supposing you do this at an  
improper time4 ,on the contrary1 were   
you to pass from the slack to the tight 
rein1 all at once1 you must jerk your   
hand1 and give a violent shock to the   
horse's mouth2 which rough and irregular
 motion would be sufficient to falsify  

and ruin a good mouth2 it is            
indispensably necessary1 therefore1 that
 all its opeperations should be gentle  
and light1 and in order to this1 it is  
necessary that the ,,wrist alone should 
direct and govern all its motions1 by   
turning and steering it as it were1     
through every motion it is to make  ,in 
consequence then of these principles1 ,i
 insist that the wrist be kept so round 
that your knuckles may be always        
directly above the horse's neck1 and    
that your thumb be always kept flat upon
 the reins4 ,in reality were your wrist 
to be more or less rounded than in the  
degree ,i have fixed1 you could never   
work with your hand but by means of your
 arm1 and besides it would appear as    
though you were lame2 again were your   
thumb not to be upon the flat of the    
reins1 pressed hard upon your fore      
finger1 they would be constantly        
slipping away1 and lengthened1 and in   
order to recover them you would be      
obliged every minute to raise your hand 

and arm1 which would throw you into     
disorder and make you lose that justness
 without which no horse will be obedient
 and work with readiness and pleasure to
 himself4  ,it is nevertheless true1    
that with horses well dressed one may   
take liberties2 these are motions called
 descents of the hand2 either by        
dropping the knuckles directly and at   
once upon the horse's neck1 or by taking
 the reins in the right hand about four 
inches above the left1 letting them     
slide through the left1 dropping your   
right hand at the same time upon the    
horse's neck1 or else by putting the    
horse under the button as it is called3 
that is by taking the end of the reins  
in your right hand1 quitting them       
intirely with your left hand and letting
 the end of them fall upon your horse's 
neck1 these motions however1 which give 
grace to the horseman1 never should be  
made but with great caution1 and exactly
 when your horse is well together and in
 hand2 and take care in counterbalancing

 by throwing back your body1 that the   
weight of the body lie upon his         
haunches4  ,the ,bit and ,snaffle were  
they to be kept constantly in one place 
in his mouth1 would of course dull the  
sense of feeling1 and become benumbed   
and callous2 this shews the necessity of
 continually yeilding and drawing back  
the hand to keep the horse's mouth fresh
 and awake4 ,it is therefore self       
evident that a heavy handed horseman can
 never break a horse to any degree of   
nicety1 or ride one which is already    
broke to any degree of exactness4       
,besides these rules1 there are others  
not less just and certain2 7but whose   
niceness and refinement is not the lot  
of every person to taste and understand7
 my hand being in the first position1 ,i
 open my two middle fingers1 ,i         
consequently ease and slacken myright   
rein2 ,i shut my hand1 the right rein   
operates again1 resuming its place as   
before1 ,i open my little finger and    
carrying the end of it upon the right   

rein1 ,i thereby slacken the left and   
shorten the right2 ,i shut my hand      
entirely and immediately open it again1 
,i thereby lessen the degree of tension 
and force of the two reins at the same  
time2 again ,i close my hand not quite  
so much1 but still ,i close it4  ,it is 
by these methods and by the vibration of
 the reins1 that ,i unite the feeling in
 my hand with that in the horse's mouth1
 and thus ,i play with a fine and ,,made
 mouth1 and freshen and relieve the two 
bars in which the feeling resides4      
,therefore1 it is that correspondence   
and sensation between the horse's mouth 
and the hand of the rider1 which alone  
can make him submit with pleasure to the
 constraint of the bit4  ,having thus   
explained the different positions and   
motions of the hand1 permit me in a few 
words to shew the effects which they    
produce in horsemanship8  ,the hand     
directs the reins1 the reins operate    
upon the branches of the bit2 the       
branches upon the mouth-piece and the   

curb1 the mouth-piece operates upon the 
bars1 and the curb upon the chin of the 
horse4  ,so far for the management of   
the bridle hand upon thorough-broke and 
well-dressed horses4 ,but in breaking   
young horses for any purpose1 the reins 
in all cases ought to be separated1     
nothing so unmeaning1 nothing so        
ineffectual as the method of working    
with them joined or held in only one    
hand1 this is very evident in the       
instances of colts1 and of stiff necked1
 and unworked horses of all kinds1 with 
them it is impossible to do anything    
without holding a rein in either hand1  
which rein operates with certainty and  
governs the side of the neck to which it
 belongs1 and surely this is a shorter  
way of working than to make1 or rather  
attempt to make the left rein determine 
the horse to the right1 and the right   
guide him to the left4 ,in the above    
instances of stiff awkward horses this  
can never be done2 and altho it is      
constantly practised with those which   

are ,drest1 yet it is certain they obey1
 and make their ,changes more from      
docility and ,habit1 than from the      
influence of the outward rein1 which    
ought only to act1 to balance and       
support1 while the inner bends1         
inclines1 and guides the horse to the   
hand to which he is to go4  ,this can   
never be done so fully and truly with   
the reins joined1 as when they are      
separated into each hand1 and if double 
or ,running reins were used instead of  
single as with a snaffle or#bd-99       
,meadow's bit1 they would afford more   
compass and power to the horseman to    
bend and turn his horse4  ,the manner of
 holding the reins high as condemed by  
some writers1 possessing themselves with
 a notion that they ruin the hocks of   
the horses4 ,for my own part ,i do not  
know what those writers mean1 unless by 
them we are to understand the haunches2 
and then this method instead of ruining1
 will work and assist them1 for the head
 and fore quarters are raised up1 his   

weight of course is thrown upon his     
haunches1 for one end being raised the  
other must be kept down4  ,it is nothing
 more than a natural cause1 which will  
always produce a natural effect1 for    
instance1 ballance a pole upona wall so 
that it acts in equilibrium1 only raise 
one end1 the other of course must be    
lowered1 it is the same with a horse1 as
 you cannot rise his fore parts but by  
bringing his haunches more under him4 ,i
 would here wish to remark that horses  
should never be compelled by force      
untill they know what you wish from     
them1 for let them be however           
disobedient in their disposition1 yet   
are all of them more or less sensible of
 good and bad usage from their masters2 
the best method then to convey your     
intention to them so that they shall    
understand you1 is to reward them when  
they do well1 and to punish them when   
disobedient1 this rule though contained 
in few words yet is of universal use in 
horsemanship4  ,and ,xenophon1 who wrote

 a treatise on ,horsemanship1 more than 
two thousand years ago1 among other     
notable remarks1 when speaking on       
horse-breaking1 wherein he concludes    
thus3 ,but there is one rule to be      
inviolably observed above all others2   
that is1 never approach your horse in a 
passion2 as anger never thinks of       
consequences and forces us to do what we
 afterwards repent4  ,begging pardon for
 this short but useful digression1 ,i   
again observe that such are the         
principles upon which the perfection and
 justness of the aids of the hand       
depend2 all others are false and not to 
be regarded4--,thus far for the bridle  
hand1 and its effects4     ,,lecture    
,,on ,,horsemanship4  ,addressed to the 
,ladies4   ,among all the various       
writers on the art of horsemanship1     
notwithstanding1 side-saddles have been 
known and in use in ,england more then  
six hundred years ago1 even in          
,richard's time1 for in the reign of    
this prince side-saddles were first     

known here1 as it will appear from the  
following anecdote1 by a ,warwick       
historian1 in which he says4  ,and in   
his days also began the detestable      
custom of wearing long pointed shoes1   
fastened with chains of silver1 and     
sometimes gold1 up to the knees1        
likewise noble ladies then used high    
heads1 and robes with long trains1 and  
seats or side-saddles on their horses1  
by the example of the respectable queen 
,anne1 daughter of the king of ,bohemia1
 who first introduced this custom in    
this kingdom3 for before1 women of every
 rank rode as men do1 with their legs   
astride their horses4  ,thus says our   
,warwick historian1 so that side saddles
 appear to have been used many centuries
 ago1 and that formerly the female sex  
took the fashion of riding like men1 for
 which they are reprehended1 by a ,greek
 historian1 and hard indeed is the      
equestrian situation of the ladies1 for 
if they are to be accused of indelicacy 
for riding after the manner of men1 they

 are greatly to be pitied in hazarding  
their safety as they do1 in riding after
 the manner of ,women4  ,however as no  
one hath ever yet lent a helping hand in
 putting pen to paper on the subject1 by
 way of adding1 if possible1 to the     
ladies1 elegance1 ease and safety on    
horse back2 ,i shall without any other  
apology then assuring those ladies who  
may please to read what ,i write on the 
matter1 is well meant1 and are such     
ideas that have occured to me in many   
years study1 and practice in the manage4
   ,,directions ,,in ,,mounting4  ,let  
the ostler or servant being on the off  
side the horse1 with right hand holding 
the bridoun reins1 to properly stay the 
horse1 and his left hand on the part of 
the saddle called the crutch1 by this   
method both horse and saddle will be    
kept firm and steady1 it is the riding  
master's duty to examine the bridle     
whether it is properly placed1 the curb1
 chain1 or chin chain in due order1 the 
saddle in a proper place1 and the girths

 sufficiently tight1 c4 ,direct the lady
 then to take her whip1 or switch in the
 right hand1 the small end of it turned 
towards the horse's croup1 then with the
 right hand take a firm hold of the     
pommell of the saddle standing upright  
with her right shoulder square1 and in a
 line with the horse's left1 she then   
bending the left knee pretty much1 the  
master or gentleman who asists her      
standing facing the lady1 he stooping a 
little receives the lady's left foot in 
his hands being clasped firm together1  
the lady must then be directed to       
straiten her knee1 being now bent1 with 
a firmness and elasticity pressing her  
left hand on the man's left shoulder1   
making a little spring at the same time1
 by which the riding-master1 gentleman1 
or servant1 if permitted1 by paying due 
attention to these rules will spring the
 lady on the saddle with the greatest   
ease and safety4 ,the method of         
adjusting the petticoats2 ,i then place 
the lady's foot in the stirrup tho' it  

is a wonder if a proper length1 being   
guess work1 as we are now to suppose    
this to be the first lesson1 and the    
stirrup cannot be properly fixed1 till  
the lady is in her seat1 ,i say ,i then 
give her the stirrup1 directing she may 
take a firm hold with the left hand of a
 lock of the horse's mane1 at the same  
time she having a firm hold of the      
crutch with the right1 by which means   
she rises herself up from the saddle1   
standing firm in the stirrup1 looking   
rather over the off side of the horse's 
neck1 the intention of this is that the 
attendant shall adjust the coats so as  
they sit smooth and easy1 by pulling    
them round a little to the right1 then  
on returning to the saddle1 or seat1 and
 while in coming down she must put her  
right knee over the pommel of the       
saddle1 and by these simple rules she   
will find all comfortable and easy2 in  
regard to the adjustment of the bridle  
reins1 and the managing and directing   
the horse by them1 pay strict attention 

to those set down in the first lecture  
addressed to the gentlemen2 let the whip
 be placed firm and easy in the right   
hand1 with the taper or small end       
downwards1 and the arm hanging          
carelessly down without contraction1 and
 when the whip is made use off1 let it  
be by means of the wrist1 without       
lifting the arm from the body1 and be   
careful not to touch the horse with the 
whip too backward as many of them will  
kick on their being flogged in that     
part1 which if it should not occasion a 
fall1 would much alarm the young        
scholar1 before she has acquired any    
degree of ballance4   ,,directions ,,for
 ,,the ,,length ,,of ,,the ,,stirrup4   
,the ,stirrup should be such length as  
when the lady sits upright and properly 
on her seat1 with the knee being easily 
bent1 the heel kept back1 with the toe  
raised a little higher than the heel1 so
 that the heel1 hip and the shoulder1   
are in a line and as upright as when    
walking along1 for if otherwise it is   

unjust and not agreeable to nature2 for 
suppose you are riding along the road   
with the foot stuck out and so forward  
as the horses front of his shoulder1 as 
is not uncommon to see girls riding in  
this manner along the road in the       
country1 as tho' they were directing    
with their foot which road their horse  
should take1 ,i say this method is not  
only very unbecoming but very unsafe1   
for instance if riding carelessly along 
the road with the foot and leg in this  
attitude being to pass some stubborn or 
inflexible object on the left or near   
side1 perhaps before you are aware or   
apprised of the danger you might have   
your foot and leg sorely bruised1 nay   
even dragged from your horse1 ,i have   
seen similar instances to this1 happen  
more than once1 even when the foot has  
been in a good situation by ladies who  
unthinkingly have endeavoured to pass   
objects to the left when they could as  
easily have passed those objects to the 
right1 which ladies should make an      

invariable rule so to do at all times1  
if possible2 for reasons which must be  
plain to any one1 who will think one    
minute on the matter2 another           
inconvenience will frequently arise by  
suffering the leg and foot to be in this
 horrid form1 which is1 the stirrup     
leather will frequently press against   
the leg1 so as to hurt it very much1    
this ,i have often had beginners        
complain of1 by saying the buckle of the
 stirrup hurt them1 when behold ,i never
 use a buckle to my stirrups on the left
 side1 as they are always fastened and  
buckled on the off side1 for two        
particular good advantages which arise  
from it2 the principal of which is1 that
 as the pressure or bearing coming from 
the off side1 it greatly assists in     
keeping the saddle even1 especially with
 those ladies through a bad habit who   
accustom themselves to bear hard on the 
stirrup which is nothing more then a    
habit1 and want of learning to ride the 
right way at first4  ,the other reason  

is1 you can lengthen or shorten the     
stirrup at pleasure1 without disturbing 
the lady at all1 and without even       
dismounting yourself1 if you are riding 
on the road1 as the business is done on 
the off side the horse1 nay ,i have     
altered the stirrup often without       
stopping at all4  ,i insist upon it     
therefore if the stirrup does not hang  
perpendicular1 or the same as when left 
to itself and no one on horseback1 the  
end is totally destroyed1 for what the  
stirrup was designed2 which is in the   
first place to carry the weight of1 and 
only the weight of the rider's leg1     
without which support it would soon     
become fatigued and tired3 and secondly1
 if you accustom yourself to carry your 
foot properly1 as before directed1 that 
is your heel in a line with your hip and
 shoulder1 letting your foot rest even  
in the stirrup1 carrying only the weight
 of your leg1 with the toe a little     
raised1 it will never fail to assist you
 in your balance1 if you happen to lose 

it to the left1 it is also ready to save
 you if you should happen to lose your  
balance to the right1 by pressing the   
calf of your leg strongly and firmly to 
the side of your horse1 and being always
 near your horse's side it is a quick   
aid in supporting him1 and to force him 
forward1 it is also of the greatest use1
 by pressing it strongly to his side1 in
 assisting to turn your horse to the    
left1 and likewise in throwing your     
horse's croup off when you wish to make 
him go into a canter1 by which means he 
will be forced to go off with the right 
leg foremost4  ,and lastly1 it is of the
 utmost utility in supporting you in the
 continuance of the ,spring ,trot1 a    
pace now greatly in fashion1 and should 
be practised by all who accustom        
themselves to ride any length of        
journies1 as it enables them to make    
some degree of speed1 and by changing   
their paces often from walk1 to trot1   
and gallop1 their journey becomes less  
tedious to them4   ,,of ,,the ,,seat1   

,and ,form of the ,side ,saddle4  ,in   
the first place ,i would strongly       
recommend a large seated ,saddle1 very  
high on the cantlet or back part1 and a 
regular sweep from thence to the front  
or pommell1 for some saddles1 more shame
 be it spoken1 are so small1 and the    
seat so rounded in the middle1 that to  
sit on them is next to balancing        
themselves on a round pole1 a           
comfortable situation truly for a lady6 
,i say again let me recommend a large   
seated saddle2 ,i mean let it be large  
in proportion to the size of the lady1  
and high in the cantlet1 nay ,i am      
confident that they might be contrived  
to advantage1 were they constructed with
 peaks1 and the peak carried on from the
 back part of the saddle to within four 
inches of the front on the off side2    
this with the addition of a ,burr1 as it
 is called1 to support the left knee1   
would greatly assist the lady in keeping
 the body on a good balance and         
sufficiently back3 which might prevent  

many accidents4  ,if these hints should 
strike any lady or gentleman as being   
reasonable1 and should they be inclined 
to have a saddle so constructed1 ,i     
should think myself happy in explaining 
myself more fully on the subject4  ,now 
in regard to the ,seat for a ,lady1 ,i  
sincerely wish ,i was able to prescribe 
a more firm one than the present fashion
 will admit of1 however ,i will do my   
endeavour to handle it in the best      
manner ,i can2 and first let the whole  
weight of the body rest firmly upon the 
center of the saddle1 leaning nei her to
 one side or the other1 with the        
shoulders easily back1 and the chest    
presented well forward2 a lady cannot be
 too nice and circumspect1 in           
accustoming herself to sit upright1     
without contraction1 in any part1       
nothing so graceful1 nothing so safe as 
ease of action2 do not let the stirrup  
carry more than the weight of the leg1  
except in case of the ,swing ,trot1 or  
when assisting to keep the ,ballance1   

,two material disadvantages arise from  
,ladies accustoming themselves to bear  
heavy in the stirrup1 and loll about1   
constantly twisting themselves to the   
near or left side of the horse3 first it
 destroys their whole figure1 making the
 same appear deformed and crooked2 and  
if they were to continue in the habit of
 riding would confirm them in such      
deformed attitude1 in its becoming      
second nature1 by constant use2 this is 
a truth too frequently witnessed1 by    
practising without the right method4    
,secondly1 the other disadvantage most  
materially affects the horse2 for by    
their so constantly leaning themselves  
to the near side1 the side-saddle being 
so pulled and pressed against the       
withers or shoulder of the horse on the 
off side1 keeping up a continual        
friction1 and this being the case1 ,i   
defy all the ,sadlers in the kingdom to 
prevent the saddle from wringing and    
galling the poor beast1 especially in   
the heat of the summer2 the only remedy 

is to take away the cause1 by sitting   
properly1 and the effect ceases of      
course4  ,the notions which some ,ladies
 have entertained1 as to fear to let    
their daughters be taught to ,ride1     
least it should make them grow crooked  
and awry1 ,i insist that they are false1
 and quite the reverse2 the cause is1 as
 before observed1 by their contracting  
bad habits of their own1 and not being  
instructed on approved principles1 so   
that the effect is caught hold of1 while
 the cause lies unsought for2 from my   
own knowledge and experience ,i could   
relate several instances wherein young  
,ladies instead of growing crooked by   
learning to ride1 have been greatly     
relieved from those complaints1 and even
 quite eradicated by the practice of    
riding1 ,i will here beg leave to       
mention an instance or two which will   
serve to prove what good effects may    
arise from this pleasant and healthful  
exercise4  ,a young ,lady about         
,seventeen years of age who had been    

afflicted for twelve months with a      
stiffness in her neck and shoulders1 and
 it was observable that the right       
shoulder was grown much larger than the 
left4  ,she on coming to the riding     
house to observe her fellow scholars    
take their lessons1 of which she became 
much pleased1 and wished much to learn  
to ride4--,the governess consulted me on
 the matter1 but said she feared it     
might make her grow worse as she had    
been told that riding sometimes caused  
,ladies to become crooked1 however1 by  
my reasoning the matter with her she was
 convinced in her own opinion and caused
 the young ,lady to write to her parents
 in ,jamaica1 and had permission by     
return of packet to ride according to my
 directions1 which were briefly as      
follows1 being in the month of ,march1  
and of course rather a cold piercing    
air1 ,i advised new unwashed flannel    
every time she took a lesson to be worn 
next the skin on the part affected1 she 
rode1 of course a strong perspiration   

took place1 she was much fatigued for   
the first six or seven ,lessons1 however
 after then as she began to be          
acquainted with the use of her bridle   
hands1 as ,i made her use both2 and give
 great part of the ,lessons1 in small   
circles to right and left2 the          
consequence was that by persevering in  
this method for two successive months   
the parts became naturally relaxed and  
pliable1 and by continuing to practice  
she entirely recovered her alacrity and 
spirits1 and also became acquainted with
 the art of ,riding1 which ,i hope she  
may long live to practice with ease and 
safety to herself in her native country4
  ,another young ,lady from the same    
school had a particular habit of leaning
 her shoulders and neck forward1 ,i have
 frequently heard it called pokeing1 and
 all the dancing-master's instructions  
had for years been ineffectual4 ,i      
believe she was more fond of riding than
 dancing instructions1 for the governess
 of the young lady before-mentioned     

often asserted that the ,riding ,master 
had done more in setting her scholar    
upright and keeping her shoulders easily
 back1 in the space only of two months1 
than the ,dancing ,master1 though       
capable in his profession1 had been able
 to accomplish in three years4  ,i hope 
to be pardoned for this little          
digression1 not doubting but those      
,ladies who will give themselves time to
 consider the foregoing1 will be        
convinced that it is agreeable to reason
 and nature4  ,now to say some little   
more of the ,,seat1 which cannot be too 
much attended to1 being in a great      
measure the foundation of safety to a   
lady when on horseback1 and as such ,i  
would strongly recommend the lady being 
in the menage1 or in any proper place1  
the horse being very quiet and to be    
trusted to2 then let the lady seat      
herself properly on the saddle as before
 directed1 only without the stirrup1 and
 not to take the reins1 leaving the     
direction of the horse to the ,riding   

,master1 or to whoever she can with     
safety trust the government to2 and in  
this manner take half an hour's practice
 every day1 as nothing will so greatly  
assist in acquiring a good and just     
balance4  ,i do not advise this method  
to be gone rapidly about1 as she may    
make use both of stirrup and reins at   
first1 and when she has acquired a      
firmness and ballance in some degree1   
may first quit the stirrup1 and in a    
lesson or two1 the reins4 remembering to
 go to right and left circle alternately
 and progressively4 viz4 from ,walk to  
,trot and ,gallop2 ,i hope ,i need not  
say that the horse should be remarkably 
steady1 and properly broke to go in     
circles to right and left by the        
longeing rein4  ,i say this method will 
settle and give the scholar a firmness  
not to be acquired by any other means1  
will teach them to unite themselves with
 their horse1 and go along with him1 it 
will bring about that confidence1       
firmness1 ease1 and just poize of body  

which serves to constitute what is      
called a perfect ,seat1 acquired by the 
rules of art1 and agreeable to nature1  
and ,i here beg leave to quote a few    
lines which the great ,berringer        
observes applicable to this subject1 ,it
 is astonishing to think how this work  
so immediately necessary could have been
 deferred so long1 that while rewards   
were given1 public trials appointed1 and
 laws enacted to promote an useful and  
generous breed of horses1 no step should
 have been taken on the other hand to   
qualify and instruct the youth of the   
kingdom1 of both sex in the superior art
 of riding2 for the getting on the back 
of an horse to be conveyed from one     
place to another without knowing what   
the animal is enabled by nature1 art and
 practice to perform1 is not ,riding1   
the knowledge and utility of which      
consists in being able to discern and   
dexterous to employ the means by which  
the horse may be brought to execute what
 the rider requires of him with         

propriety1 readiness and safety1 and    
this knowledge in the rider and         
obedience in the horse should be so     
intimately connected as to form one     
perfect whole1 this union being so      
indispensably necessary that where it is
 not1 there is no meaning1 the rider and
 horse talk different languages1 and all
 is confusion1 while many and fatal     
mischiefs may ensue1 the rider may be   
wedged in the timber which he strives to
 rend1 and fall the victim of his own   
ignorance and rashness4  ,i have now    
observed such rules which with practice 
will form as good and perfect a ,seat as
 the customary mode of riding will admit
 of4 ,it remains now with practice and  
perseverance to make perfect4   ,,when  
,,riding ,,on ,,the ,,road4  ,when a    
lady has taken sufficient practice in   
the menage or elsewhere1 so as to be    
able to steer and guide her horse1 and  
particularly can stop him firm and well 
upon his haunches1 and also knows by    
practice how to unite herself to the    

horse1 provided he should stop suddenly 
by his own will1 an instance which      
frequently happens1 therefore it is     
essential that the rider should become  
sensible of every action of the horse by
 that kind of sympathy of feeling which 
should subsist between them1 so as to   
know his intentions as quick as thought1
 in this and all other actions he may be
 inclined to1 which are likely to offend
 and endanger the rider1 or himself2 ,i 
would earnestly recommend the lady to   
make herself acquainted with every help 
so as to gaurd and defend herself on all
 occasions1 such as her horse stumbling1
 shying1 starting1 running away1 running
 back1 rearing1 kicking1 and plunging2  
yet horses addicted to any of those     
vices are by no means fit1 or should    
have ladies set upon knowingly1 but as a
 lady cannot always be so fortunate as  
to get the possession of one of those   
hackneys we call a nonpareil1 tho' every
 dealer you enquire of for one will say 
he can sell it you1 therefore place not 

too much confidence in him you purchase 
your horse from1 or the horse himself1  
even after you have rode him some time1 
for you scarce ever can be certain but  
he may play you some of those tricks1   
especially if his keep is above his     
work1 as ,i have always found the best  
lady's hackneys require constant        
practice to keep them in tune4  ,it is  
necessary the lady should have a sharp  
eye upon the road she is travelling1    
taking care by the gentle assistance of 
the bridle hand to steer and guide her  
horse into the best1 to avoid all stones
 and uneven places1 and never to ride   
near the edge of any deep ditch or      
sudden precipice1 for altho1 heaven be  
praised1 accidents very seldom happen1  
yet if for the want of a little care and
 due management one should happen in one
 hundred years1 that one would be one   
too many3 the lady should pay great     
attention to the horse when going down a
 steep hill1 and endeavour to put him   
together and upon his haunches1 and to  

perform this1 she must feel his mouth   
lightly and firmly with the bridle hand1
 at the same time making use of some of 
the helps used to force him to go       
forward1 such as clicking with your     
voice1 a gentle touch with the whip1 or 
the heel1 so she stays him a little by  
the bridle hand at the same time he is  
forced forwards by the other helps or   
aids and if properly timed1 by doing    
enough without over doing1 he will be   
put together1 and of course kept on a   
light proper action which must be in the
 real action of a trot1 that is with his
 two corner legs in the air at one time 
and two on the ground1 by such means the
 horse will always be kept on a sure    
ballance and never be in danger of      
falling1 on the other hand if the horse 
is sufferd to go loose and unasisted by 
the bridle hand1 and the other aids as  
before described1 when going down a     
steep hill he will most commonly go into
 that unnatural pace called the amble   
which is moving his side legs together  

instead of his corner legs1 this pace is
 very unsafe notwithstanding the        
ancients used arts in breaking the horse
 to the amble1 on account of its being  
so much easier than the trot1 but as it 
is a known maxim in physic that giving  
ease and performing a cure are two      
different things1 so here an easy pace  
and a safe one are as diametrically     
opposite1 and that the amble is an      
unsafe pace is easy to be conceived by  
the horse losing so large a portion of  
his ballance1 to prove which only try   
these simple experiments4 ,take a wooden
 horse let his two corner legs be taken 
away and he will stand1 but take away   
his two sides leg and he falls1 again   
one often sees at a farrier's shop when 
a horse is wanted to be shod in haste1  
two smiths can work at the same time1 by
 taking each of them a corner leg1      
therefore how careful should we be to   
keep our hackneys on a safe action1 and 
awake under us on all occasions4  ,the  
lady should endeavour to make herself   

acquainted with those objects which     
horses are most subject to be alarmed   
at1 and first of all is a windmill in   
full sail1 next some can never be       
brought to go comfortably by a tilted   
waggon1 especially if meeting it1 others
 dislike asses very much1 some dislike  
to face a man wheeling a barrow or an   
umbrella extended1 an arch drain which  
is frequently seen to carry the water   
away thro the banks in a turnpike road1 
its laying low and of course presents   
itself very suddenly1 will sadly alarm  
some1 and any object suddenly presenting
 itself is almost sure to affright and  
alarm any horse in spirits1 ,i once saw 
a lady get a fall1 by a cow suddenly    
presenting its head over a hedge1 yet a 
more steady animal never was1 as ,i used
 her four years and never knew her start
 either before or after2 let it be      
remembered that horses are more apt to  
be shy or start in the dusk of the      
evening than in broad day light1 horses 
with bad eyes are almost sure to start1 

yet starting is not a sure sign of bad  
eyes1 as many imagine it1 ,i mention    
these few observations in regard to     
starting because horses which are most  
free from those faults1 it may happen to
 some times2 as horses like men are not 
alway in the same temper3 never ride on 
a fast pace by any lane's end1 or in    
turning any sudden or short turn1 for   
two reasons2 first1 that it is unsafe as
 the horse might be subject to fall for 
want of being supported1 and put        
together by shortening his pace1 and    
secondly by your not being able to      
discern the objects which might present 
themselves to you so as to disturb and  
alarm your horse3 these little hints    
kept well in mind may be the means of   
preventing many accidents4  ,,finis4    
,,footnotes3  #c-99 ,such as the ,wild  
,arabs1 ,indians1 c4  #bd-99 ,used by   
,sir ,sidney ,meadows4                  
,transcriber's ,note   ,the following   
misspellings and typographical errors   
were maintained4    ,page  ,error     #d

   particulatly should read particularly
    #aj   dependance should read        
dependence    #aa   iregular should read
 irregular    #ab   seperately should   
read separately    #ad   apendix should 
read appendix    #ad   higher then      
should read more than    #ad   purpose1 
should read purpose4    #af   seperate2 
should read separate    #af   croud     
should read crowd    #ag   thay should  
read they    #bj   opeperations should  
read operations    #ba   to make should 
read to make4    #bb   myright should   
read my right    #bd   condemed should  
read condemned    #bd   upona should    
read upon a    #bd   untill should read 
until    #bf   more then should read    
more than    #bg   occured should read  
occurred    #bg   manage should read    
menage    #bh   asists should read      
assists    #cj   more then should read  
more than    #cc   nei her should read  
neither    #cc   ,ballance1 should read 
,ballance4    #cf   the reins4 should   
read the reins1    #cf   progressively4 

should read progressively1    #ch       
gaurd should read guard    #ci          
unasisted should read unassisted    #ci 
wooden horse should read wooden horse1  
#dj   spirits1 should read spirits4