,illustration3 ,a woman dressed in riding clothes ,,ladies ,,on ,,horseback4 ,,learning1 ,,park-,,riding1 ,,and ,,hunting1 ,,with ,,hints ,,upon ,,costume1 ,,and ,,numerous ,,anecdotes4 ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,power ,o',,donoghue 7,,nannie ,,lambert74 ,,authoress ,,of ,,the ,,knave ,,of ,,clubs1 ,,horses ,,and ,,horsemen1 ,,grandfather',s ,,hunter1 ,,one ,,in ,,ten ,,thousand1 ,,spring ,,leaves1 ,,thoughts ,,on ,,the ,,talmud1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 ,,london3 ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,co41 #ac1 ,,waterloo ,,place1 ,s4,w4 #ahha4 ,all rights reserved4 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,and ,,co41 #ac1 ,,waterloo ,,place1 ,s4,w4 ,,to ,,my ,,friend ,,alfred ,e4 ,t4 ,,watson1 ,,esq41 ,,author ,,of ,,sketches ,,in ,,the ,,hunting ,,field1 ,,etc41 ,,to ,,whom ,i ,,owe ,,much ,,of ,,my ,,success ,,as ,a ,,writer1 ,,these ,,pages ,,are ,,gratefully ,,inscribed4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the #ae pages of advertisements preceding the title page have been moved to the end of this book4 ,,introduction4 ,in preparing this work for the press1 ,i may state that it is composed chiefly of a series of papers on horses and their riders1 which appeared a short time since in the columns of ,the ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news4 ,how they originally came to be written and published may not prove uninteresting4 ,one day1 in the middle of ,february #ahhj1 a goodly company1 comprising many thousands of persons1 assembled upon the lawn of a nobleman's residence in the vicinity of ,dublin2 ostensibly for the purpose of hunting1 but in reality to gaze at and chronicle the doings of a very distinguished foreign lady1 who had lately come to our shores4 ,i was there1 of course2 and whilst we waited for the ,imperial party1 ,i amused myself by watching the moving panorama1 and taking notes of costume and effect4 ,everybody who could procure anything upon which to ride1 from a racehorse to a donkey1 was there that day1 and vehicles of all descriptions blocked up every available inch of the lordly avenues and well-kept carriage-drives4 ,there is for me so great an attraction in a number of ladies on horseback that ,i looked at them1 and at them alone4 ,one sees gentlemen riders every hour in the day1 but ladies comparatively seldom2 every hunting morning finds about a hundred and fifty mounted males ready for the start1 and only on an average about six mounted females1 of whom probably not more than the half will ride to hounds4 ,this being the case1 ,i always look most particularly at that which is the greater novelty1 nor am ,i by any means singular in doing so4 ,on the day of which ,i write1 however1 ladies on horseback were by no means uncommon3 ,i should say there were at least two hundred present upon the lawn4 ,some rode so well1 and were so beautifully turned out1 that the most hypercritical could find no fault2 but of the majority--what can ,i say8 ,alas6 nothing that would sound at all favourable4 ,such horses1 such saddles1 such rusty bridles1 such riding-habits1 such hats1 whips1 and gloves2 and1 above all1 such coiffures6 ,my very soul was sorry4 ,i could not laugh1 as some others were doing4 ,i felt too melancholy for mirth4 ,it seemed to me most grievous that my own sex 7many of them so young and beautiful7 should be thus held up to ridicule4 ,i asked myself was it thus in other places2 and ,i came to ,london in the spring1 and walked in the ,row1 and gazed1 and took notes1 and was not satisfied4 ,perhaps ,i was too critical4 ,there was very much to praise1 certainly1 but there was also much wherewith to find fault4 ,the style of riding was bad2 the style of dressing was incomparably worse4 ,the well-got-up only threw into darker shadow the notable defects visible in the forms and trappings of their less fortunate sisterhood4 ,i questioned myself as to how this could be best remedied4 ,remonstrance was impossible--advice equally so4 ,why could not somebody write a book for lady equestrians1 or a series of papers which might appear in the pages of some fashionable magazine or journal1 patronised and read by them8 ,the idea seemed a good one1 but ,i lacked time to carry it out1 and so it rested in embryo for many months4 ,last ,june1 whilst recovering from serious illness1 my cherished project returned to my mind4 ,forbidden to write1 and too weak to hold a pen1 ,i strove feebly with a pencil to trace my thoughts upon odd scraps of paper1 which ,i thrust away in my desk without any definite idea as to what should eventually become of them4 ,in ,july1 whilst staying at a country house near ,shrewsbury1 ,i one day came upon these shorthand jottings1 and1 having leisure-time upon my hands1 set to work and put them into form4 ,a line to the ,editor of ,the ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news1 with whom1 ,i may state1 ,i had had no previous acquaintance1 brought an immediate reply1 to send my work for consideration4 ,i did so2 called upon him by appointment when ,i came a few days later to ,london2 made all arrangements in a three-minutes interview2 and the first of my series of papers appeared shortly after4 ,that they were successful1 far beyond their deserts1 is to me a proud boast4 ,on their conclusion numerous firms negotiated with me for the copyright3 with what result is known2 and here to my publishers ,i tender my best thanks4 ,in arranging now these writings--put together and brought before the public at a time when ,i had apparently many years of active life before me--it is to me a melancholy reflection that the things of which they treat are gone from my eyes1--for alas6 ,i can ride no more4 ,never again may my heart be gladdened with the music of the hounds1 or my frame invigorated by the exercise which ,i so dearly loved4 ,an accident1 sudden and unexpected1 has deprived me of my strength1 and left me to speak in mournful whispers of what was for long my happiest theme4 ,yet why repine where so much is left8 ,it is but another chapter in our life's history6 ,we love and cling to one pursuit--and it passes from us2 then another absorbs our attention1--it1 too1 vanishes2 and so on--perhaps midway to the end--until the looking back becomes so filled with saddened memories1 that the looking forward is alone left4 ,and so we turn our wistful eyes where they might never have been directed1 had the prospect behind us been less dark4 ,a few more words1 and ,i close my preliminary observations and commence my subject4 ,i cannot but be aware1 from the nature of the correspondence which has flowed in upon me1 that although far the greater number of my readers have agreed with me and entirely coincided in my views1 not a few have been found to cavil4 ,let not such think that ,i am oblivious of their good intentions because ,i remain unconvinced by their arguments1 and still prefer to maintain my own opinions1 which ,i have not ventured to set forth without mature deliberation1 and the most substantial reasons for holding them in fixity of tenure4 ,i have spent some considerable time in turning over in my mind the advisability1 or otherwise1 of publishing1 as a sort of appendix to this volume1 a selection from the letters which were printed in ,the ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news with reference to my writings in that journal4 ,after much deliberation ,i have decided upon suffering the entire number1 with a few trifling exceptions1 to appear4 ,they only form a very small proportion of the voluminous correspondence with which the ,editor and myself were favoured2 but1 such as they are1 ,i give them--together with my replies1--not merely because they set forth the views and impressions of various persons upon topics of universal interest1 but because ,i conceive that a large amount of useful information may be gleaned from them1 and they may also serve to amuse my lady readers1 who will doubtless be interested in the numerous queries which ,i was called upon to answer4 ,whether or not ,i have been able to fight my battles and maintain my cause1 must be for others to determine4 ,i likewise subjoin a little paper on ,hunting in ,ireland--also already published--which brought me many letters3 some of them from persons whose word should carry undoubted weight1 fully coinciding in and substantiating my views with regard to the cutting up of grass-lands2 whilst further on will be found my article entitled ,hunting in ,america1 originally published in ,life1 and copied from that journal into so many papers throughout the kingdom1 and abroad1 that it is now universally known1 and cannot be here presented in the form of a novelty1--but is given for the benefit of those who may not have chanced to meet with it1 and for whom the subject of ,american sports and pastimes may happen to possess interest4 ,n4 ,p4 ,o',d4 ,,contents4 ,,part ,i4 ,,learning4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,a ,popular ,error4--,excellence in ,riding attainable without any ,youthful ,knowledge of the ,art4--,the ,empress of ,austria4--,her ,proficiency4--,her ,palace4--,her ,occupations4--,her ,disposition4 --,her ,thoughts and ,opinions4--,the ,age at which to learn4-- ,courage indispensable4--,taste a ,necessity #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,learner's ,costume4--,the ,best ,teacher4--,your ,bridle4--,your ,saddle4--,your ,stirrup4--,danger from ,safety-stirrup4--,a ,terrible ,situation4--,learning to ,ride without any support for the ,foot #aa ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,mounting4--,holding the ,reins4--,position in the ,saddle4--,use of the ,whip4--,trotting4--,cantering4--,riding from ,balance4--,use of the ,stirrup4 ,leaping4--,whyte ,melville's opinion #bc ,,part ,,ii4 ,,park ,,and ,,road ,,riding4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,how to ,dress4--,a ,country-girl's ideas upon the subject4--,how to put on your ,riding-gear4--,how to preserve it4--,first ,road-ride4--,backing4--,rearing1 and how to prevent it #dd ,,chapter ,v4 ,running away4--,three ,dangerous ,adventures4--,how to act when placed in ,circumstances of ,peril4--,how to ,ride a ,puller4-- ,through the ,city4--,to a ,meet of ,hounds4--,boastful ,ladies4--,a ,braggart's ,resource #fb ,,part ,,iii4 ,,hunting4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,hunting-,gear4--,necessary ,regard for ,safe ,shoeing4--,drive to the ,meet4--,scene on arriving4--,a ,word with the ,huntsman4--,a ,good ,pilot4--,the ,covert-side4--,disappointment4--,a ,long ,trot #ha ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,hounds in ,covert4--,the ,first ,fence4--,follow your ,pilot4--,a ,river-bath4--,a ,wise ,precaution4--,a ,label advisable4--,wall and ,water ,jumping4--,advice to ,fallen ,riders4--,hogging4--,more ,tail #ih ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,holding on to a ,prostrate ,horse4--,is it ,wise or otherwise8--,an ,indiscreet ,jump4--,a ,difficult ,finish4--,the ,dangers of ,marshy ,grounds4--,encourage ,humanity4--,a ,reclaimed ,cabby6 #aaa ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,selfishness in the ,field4--,fording a ,river4--,shirking a ,fence4 --,over-riding the ,hounds4--,treatment of ,tired ,hunters4--,bigwig and the ,major4--,naughty ,bigwig4--,hapless ,major #abj ,,chapter ,x4 ,feeding ,horses4--,forage-biscuits4--,irish ,peasantry4--,a ,cunning ,idiot4--,a ,cabin ,supper4--,the ,roguish ,mule4--,a ,day at ,courtown4 --,paddy's ,opinion of the ,empress #aca ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,double-rise4--,pointing out the ,right ,foot4--,the force of ,habit4--,various kinds of ,fault-finding4--,mr4 ,sturgess' ,pictures4--,an ,english ,harvest-home4--,a ,jealous ,shrew4--,a ,shy ,blacksmith4--,how ,irishmen get ,partners at a ,dance #add ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,subject of ,feeding resumed4--,cooked ,food recommended4--,effects of ,raw ,oats upon ,pleader4--,servants' ,objections4--,snaffle-bridle1 and ,bit-and-,bridoon4--,kindness to the ,poor4--,an ,unsympathetic ,lady4--,an ,ungallant ,captain4--,what is a ,gentleman8--,au ,revoir6 #aei ,,part ,,iv4 ,,hunting ,,in ,,ireland #agc ,,part ,v4 ,,hunting ,,in ,,america #ahc ,,correspondence #aib ,,ladies ,,on ,,horseback4 ,,part ,i4 ,,learning4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,a ,,popular ,,error4--,,excellence ,,in ,,riding ,,attainable ,,without ,,any ,,youthful ,,knowledge ,,of ,,the ,,art4--,,the ,,empress ,,of ,,austria4--,,her ,,proficiency4--,,her ,,palace4--,,her ,,occupations4--,,her ,,disposition4--,,her ,,thoughts ,,and ,,opinions4 --,,the ,,age ,,at ,,which ,,to ,,learn4--,,courage ,,indispensable4--,,taste ,a ,,necessity4 ,it is my belief that hints to ladies from a lady1 upon a subject which now so universally occupies the female mind--hints1 not offered in any cavilling nor carping spirit1 but with an affectionate and sisterly regard for the interests of those addressed--cannot fail to be appreciated1 and must become popular4 ,men write very well for men1 but in writing for us ladies they cannot1 however willing1 enter into all the little delicacies and minutiae of our tastes and feelings1 and so half the effect is lost4 ,i do not purpose entering upon any discussion1 nor1 indeed1 touching more than very lightly upon the treatment and management of the horse4 ,a subject so exhaustive lies totally outside the limits of my pen1 and has1 moreover1 been so ably treated by men of knowledge and experience1 as to render one word further respecting the matter almost superfluous4 ,i shall therefore content myself with surmising that the horses with which we may have to do throughout these remarks--be they school-horses1 roadsters1 or hunters--are at least sound1 good-tempered1 and properly trained4 ,their beauty and other attributes we shall take for granted1 and not trouble ourselves about4 ,and now1 in addressing my readers1 ,i shall endeavour to do so as though ,i spoke to each separately1 and so shall adopt the term you1 as being at once friendly and concise4 ,my subject shall be divided into three heads4 ,first the acquirement of the equestrian art2 second1 road and park riding2 third1 hunting2 with a few hints upon the costume1 c4 required for each1 and a slight sprinkling of anecdote here and there to enliven the whole4 ,i shall commence by saying that it is a mistake to imagine that riding1 in order to be properly learnt1 must be begun in youth3 that nobody can excel as a horsewoman who has not accustomed herself to the saddle from a mere child4 ,on the contrary some of the finest equestriennes the world has ever produced have known little or nothing of the art until the spring-time of their life was past4 ,her ,imperial ,majesty the ,empress of ,austria1 and likewise her sister the ex-,queen of ,naples1 cared nothing about riding until comparatively late in life4 ,i know little1 except through hearsay1 of the last-named lady's proficiency in the saddle1 but having frequently witnessed that of the former1 and having also been favoured with a personal introduction at the gracious request of the ,empress1 ,i can unhesitatingly say that anything more superb than her style of riding it would be impossible to conceive4 ,the manner in which she mounts her horse1 sits him1 manages him1 and bears him safely through a difficult run1 is something which must be seen to be understood4 ,her courage is amazing4 ,indeed1 ,i have been informed that she finds as little difficulty in standing upon a bare-backed steed and driving four others in long reins1 as in sitting quietly in one of ,kreutzman's saddles4 ,in the circus attached to her palace at ,vienna she almost daily performs these feats1 and encourages by prizes and evidences of personal favour many of the ,viennese ladies who seek to emulate her example4 ,there has been considerable discussion respecting the question of the ,empress's womanliness1 and the reverse4 ,ladies have averred--oh1 jealous ladies6--that she is not womanly2 that her style of dressing is objectionable1 and that she has no business to ride without her husband6 ,these sayings are all open to but one interpretation2 ladies are ever envious of each other1 more especially of those who excel4 ,the ,empress is not only a perfect woman1 but an angel of light and goodness4 ,nor do ,i say this from any toadyism1 nor yet from the gratitude which ,i must feel for her kindly favour toward myself4 ,i speak as ,i think and believe4 ,blessed with a beauty rarely given to mortal1 she combines with it a sweetness of character and disposition1 a womanly tenderness1 and a thoughtful and untiring charity1 which deserve to gain for her--as they have gained--the hearts as well as the loving respect and reverence of all with whom she has come in contact4 ,i was pleased to find1 whilst conversing with her1 that many of my views about riding were hers also1 and that she considered it a pity--as ,i likewise do--that so many lady riders are utterly spoilt by pernicious and ignorant teaching4 ,i myself am of opinion that childhood is not the best time to acquire the art of riding4 ,the muscles are too young1 and the back too weak4 ,the spine is apt to grow crooked1 unless a second saddle be adopted1 which enables the learner to sit on alternate days upon the off-side of the horse2 and to this there are many objections4 ,the best time to learn to ride is about the age of sixteen4 ,all the delicacy to which the female frame is subject during the period from the thirteenth to the fifteenth year has then passed away1 and the form is vigorous and strong1 and capable of enduring fatigue4 ,i know it to be a generally accepted idea that riding is like music and literature--the earlier it is learnt the better for the learner1 and the more certain the proficiency desired to be attained4 ,this is an entirely erroneous opinion1 and one which should be at once discarded4 ,i object1 as a rule1 to children riding4 ,they cannot do so with any safety1 unless put upon horses and ponies which are sheep-like in their demeanour2 and from being accustomed to such1 and to none other1 they are nervous and frightened when mounted upon spirited animals which they feel they have not the strength nor the art to manage1 and1 being unused to the science of controlling1 they suffer themselves to be controlled1 and thus extinguish their chance of becoming accomplished horsewomen4 ,i know ladies1 certainly1 who ride with a great show of boldness1 and tear wildly across country after hounds1 averring that they never knew what fear meant3 why should they--having ridden from the time they were five years old8 ,very probably1 but the bravery of the few is nothing by which to judge of a system which is1 on the whole1 pernicious4 ,it is less objectionable for boys1 because their shoulders are not apt to grow awry by sitting sideways1 as little girls' do2 nor are they liable to hang over upon one side2 nor have they such delicate frames and weakly fingers to bring to the front4 ,moreover1 if they tumble off1 what matter8 ,it does them all the good in the world4 ,a little sticking-plaister and shaking together1 and they are all right again4 ,but ,i confess ,i don't like to see a girl come off4 ,less than a year ago a sweet little blue-eyed damsel who was prattling by my side as she rode her grey pony along with me1 was thrown suddenly and without warning upon the road4 ,the animal stumbled--her tiny hands lacked the strength to pull him together--she was too childish and inexperienced to know the art of retaining her seat4 ,she fell6 and the remembrance of uplifting her1 and carrying her little hurt form before me upon my saddle to her parents' house1 is not amongst the brightest of my memories4 ,we will assume1 then1 that you are a young lady in your sixteenth year1 possessed of the desire to acquire the art of riding1 and the necessary amount of courage to enable you to do so4 ,this latter attribute is an absolute and positive necessity1 for a coward will never make a horsewoman4 ,if you are a coward1 your horse will soon find it out1 and will laugh at you2 for horses can and do laugh when they what is usually termed gammon their riders4 ,nobody who does not possess unlimited confidence and a determination to know no fear1 has any business aspiring to the art4 ,courage is indispensable1 and must be there from the outset4 ,all other difficulties may be got over1 but a natural timidity is an insurmountable obstacle4 ,a cowardly rider labours under a two-fold disadvantage1 for she not only suffers from her own cowardice1 but actually imparts it to her horse4 ,an animal's keen instinct tells him at once whether his master or his servant is upon his back4 ,the moment your hands touch the reins the horse knows what your courage is1 and usually acts accordingly4 ,no girl should be taught to ride who has not a taste1 and a most decided one1 for the art4 ,yet ,i preach this doctrine in vain2 for1 all over the world1 young persons are forced by injudicious guardians to acquire various accomplishments for which they have no calling1 and at which they can never excel4 ,it is just as unwise to compel a girl to mount and manage a horse against her inclination1 as it is to force young persons who have no taste for music to sit for hours daily at a piano1 or thrust pencils and brushes into hands unwilling to use them4 ,a love for horses1 and an earnest desire to acquire the art of riding1 are alike necessary to success4 ,an unwilling learner will have a bad seat1 a bad method1 and clumsy hands upon the reins2 whereas an enthusiast will seem to have an innate facility and power to conquer difficulties1 and will possess that magic sense of touch1 and facile delicacy of manipulation1 which go so far toward making what are termed good hands1--a necessity without which nobody can claim to be a rider4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,learner',s ,,costume4--,,the ,,best ,,teacher4--,,your ,,bridle4--,,your ,,saddle4-- ,,your ,,stirrup4--,,danger ,,from ,,safety-,,stirrup4--,a ,,terrible ,,situation4 --,,learning ,,to ,,ride ,,without ,,any ,,support ,,for ,,the ,,foot4 ,having now discussed your age1 your nerve1 and your taste1 we shall say a few words about your costume as a learner4 ,put on a pair of strong well-made boots2 heels are not objectionable1 but buttons are decidedly so1 as they are apt to catch in the stirrup and cause trouble4 ,strong chamois riding-trousers1 cloth from the hip down1 with straps to fasten under the boots1 and soft padding under the right knee and over the left1 to prevent the friction of the pommels1 which1 to a beginner1 generally causes much pain and uneasiness4 ,a plain skirt of brown holland1 and any sort of dark jacket1 will suit your purpose quite well1 for you are only going to learn2 not to show off--yet4 ,your hat--any kind will do--must be securely fastened on1 and your hair left flowing1 for no matter how well you may fancy you have it fastened1 the motion of the horse will shake it and make it feel unsteady1 and the very first hairpin that drops out1 up will go your hand to replace it1 and your reins will be forgotten4 ,as soon as you have put on a pair of strong loose gloves1 and taken a little switch in your hand1 you are ready to mount4 ,the nicest place in which you can learn is a well-tanned riding-school or large green paddock1 and the nicest person to teach you is a lady or gentleman friend1 who will have the knowledge and the patience to instruct you4 ,heaven help the learner who is handed over to the tender mercies of ,john1 the coachman1 or ,jem1 the groom6 ,servants are rarely able to ride a yard themselves1 and their attempt at teaching is proportionately lame4 ,your horse having been led out1 your attendant looks to his girthing1 c41 as stable servants are not always too particular respecting these necessary matters4 ,the pleasantest bridle in which to ride is a plain ring-snaffle4 ,few horses will go in it2 but1 remember1 ,i am surmising that yours has been properly trained4 ,by riding in this bridle you have complete control over the movements of your horse--can1 in fact1 manage him with one hand1 and you have the additional advantage of having fewer leathers to encumber and embarrass your fingers4 ,a beginner is frequently puzzled to distinguish between the curb and the snaffle when riding with a double rein1 and mistaking one for the other1 or pulling equally at both1 is apt to cause the horse much unnecessary irritation4 ,it is lamentable to see the manner in which grown men and women1 who ought to know so much better1 tug and strain at their horses' mouths with an equal pull upon both reins1 when riding1 as is the custom1 in a bit and bridoon4 ,perhaps of the two they draw the curb the tighter4 ,it is not meant for cruelty--they do not appear to be aware that it is cruel3 but there is no greater sign of utter ignorance4 ,horses are not naturally vicious1 and very few of them who have had any sort of fair-play in training1 really require a curb1 or will go as well or pleasantly upon it as if ridden in a snaffle-bridle4 ,your saddle is another most important point4 ,never commence1 be your age ever so tender1 by riding upon a pad4 ,accustom yourself from the beginning to the use of a properly constructed saddle1 made as straight as a board1 seat perfectly level1 and scarcely any appearance of a pommel upon the off-side4 ,a leaping-head1 or what is commonly termed a third crutch1 is1 in my opinion1 indispensable4 ,to procure a saddle such as ,i describe you must have it made to order1 for those of the present day are all made with something of a dip1 which is most objectionable4 ,i do not like the appearance of much stitching about a saddle4 ,it has always appeared to me absurd to see the amount of elaborate embroidery which every old-fashioned saddle carries upon the near flap4 ,nothing could be more unnecessary than an outlay of labour upon a portion of the article which is always concealed beneath the rider's right leg4 ,there might be some sense1 although very little1 in decorating the off-side and imparting to it something of an ornamental appearance2 but in my opinion there cannot be too much simplicity about everything connected with riding appointments4 ,a plainness1 amounting even to severity1 is to be preferred before any outward show4 ,ribbons1 and coloured veils1 and yellow gloves1 and showy flowers are alike objectionable4 ,a gaudy get up 7to make use of an expressive common-place7 is highly to be condemned1 and at once stamps the wearer as a person of inferior taste4 ,therefore avoid it4 ,let your saddle be1 like your personal attire1 remarkable only for its perfect freedom from ornament or display4 ,have it made to suit yourself--neither too weighty1 nor yet too small--and if you want to ride with grace and comfort1 desire that it be constructed without one particle of the objectionable dip4 ,there is a very old-established and world-noted firm in ,piccadilly--,peat ,co4--where you can obtain an article such as ,i describe1 properly made1 and of durable materials1 at quite a moderate cost4 ,i can say1 speaking from experience1 that no trouble will be spared to afford you satisfaction1 and that the workmanship will be not only lasting1 but characterised by that neatness for which ,i am so strong an advocate4 ,you should ride on your saddle1 not in it1 and you must learn to ride from balance or you will never excel1 and this you can only do by the use of the level seat4 ,a small pocket on the off-side1 and a neat cross strap to support a waterproof1 are of course necessary items4 ,your stirrup is the next important matter4 ,i strongly disapprove of the old-fashioned slipper1 as also of the so-called safety stirrup1 which is1 in my opinion1 the fruitful source of many accidents4 ,half the lamentable mischances with which our ears are from time to time shocked1 are due to the pertinacity with which ladies will cling to this murderous safety stirrup4 ,so long as they will persist in doing so1 casualties must be looked for and must occur4 ,the padding over the instep causes the foot to become firmly imbedded1 and in the event of an accident the consequences are dire1 for the mechanism of the stirrup is almost invariably stiff or out of order1 or otherwise refuses to act4 ,mr4 ,oldacre was1 ,i believe1 the inventor of the padded stirrup1 and for this we owe him or his memory little thanks1 although the gratitude of all lady riders is undoubtedly due to him for his admirable invention and patenting of the third crutch1 without which our seat in the saddle would be far less comfortable and less secure4 ,i dare say that ,i shall have a large section of aggrieved stirrup-makers coming down upon me with the phials of their wrath for giving publicity to this opinion1 but in writing as ,i have done ,i merely state my own views1 which ,i deem we are all at liberty to do2 and looking upon my readers as friends1 ,i warn them against an article of which ,i myself have had woful experience4 ,i once purchased a safety stirrup at one of the best houses1 and made by one of the best makers4 ,the shopman showed it off to me in gallant style1 expatiating upon its many excellencies1 and adroitly managing the stiff machinery with his deft fingers1 until ,i was fairly deceived1 and gave him a handful of money for what subsequently proved a cause of trouble4 ,i lost more than one good run with hounds through the breaking of this dearly-bought stirrup1 having upon one occasion to ride quite a long distance away from the hunt to seek out a forge at which ,i might undergo repairs4 ,nor was this the worst1 for one day1 having incautiously plunged into a bog in my anxiety to be in at the death1 my horse got stuck and began to sink1 and of course ,i sought to release myself from him at once2 but no1 my foot was locked fast in that terrible stirrup1 and ,i could not stir4 ,my position was dreadful1 for ,i had outridden my pilot1 my struggling steed was momentarily sinking lower1 and the shades of evening were fast closing in4 ,i shudder to think what might have been my fate and that of my gallant horse had not the fox happily turned and led the hunt back along the skirts of the bog1 thus enabling my cries for help to be heard by one or two brave spirits who came gallantly to my rescue4 ,i have more than once since then been caught in a treacherous bog when following the chase1 but never have ,i found any difficulty in jumping from my horse's back and helping him to struggle gamely on to the dry land1 for ,i have never since ridden in a safety-stirrup1 nor shall ,i ever be likely to do so again4 ,it may be said1 and probably with truth1 that my servant had neglected to clean it properly from day to day1 and that consequently the spring had got rusted and refused to act4 ,such may possibly have been the case1 but might not the same thing occur to anyone1 or at any time8 ,servants are the same all over the world1 and yet you must either trust to them or spend half your time overlooking them in the stable and harness-room1 which for a lady is neither agreeable nor correct4 ,there is nothing so pleasant to ride in as a plain little racing-stirrup1 from which the foot is in an instant freed4 ,i have not for a long while back used anything else myself1 nor has my foot ever remained caught1 even in the most dangerous falls4 ,i conceive it to be an admirable plan to learn to ride without a stirrup at all4 ,of course ,i do not mean by this that a lady should ever go out park-riding or hunting sans the aid of such an appendage1 but she should be taught the necessity of dispensing with it in case of emergency4 ,the benefits arising from such training are manifold4 ,first1 it imparts a freedom and independence which cannot otherwise be acquired2 secondly1 it gives an admirable and sure seat over fences2 thirdly1 it is an excellent means of learning how to ride from balance2 and fourthly1 in spite of its apparent difficulties1 it is in the end a mighty simplifier1 inasmuch as1 when the use of the stirrup is again permitted1 all seems such marvellously plain sailing1 that every obstacle appears to vanish from the learner's path4 ,in short1 a lady who can ride fairly well without a support for her foot1 must1 when such is added1 be indeed an accomplished horsewoman4 ,i knew a lady who never made use of a stirrup throughout the whole course of an unusually long life1 and who rode most brilliantly to hounds4 ,few1 however1 could do this1 nor is it by any means advisable1 but to be able occasionally to dispense with the support is doubtless of decided benefit4 ,i have often found my training in this respect stand me in good stead1 for it has more than once happened that in jumping a stiff fence1 or struggling in a heavy fall1 my stirrup-leather has given way1 and ,i have had not alone to finish the run without it1 but to ride many miles of a journey homeward4 ,nothing could be more wearisome to an untutored horsewoman than a long ride without a stirrup4 ,the weight of her suspended limb becomes after a moment or two most inconvenient and even painful1 whilst the trot of the horse occasions her to bump continuously in the saddle1--for the power of rising without artificial aid would appear a sheer impossibility to an ordinary rider whose teaching had been entrusted to an ordinary teacher4 ,i would have you then bear in mind that although ,i advocate practising without the assistance of a stirrup1 ,i am totally against your setting out beyond the limits of your own lawn or paddock without this necessary support4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,mounting4--,,holding ,,the ,,reins4--,,position ,,in ,,the ,,saddle4--,,use ,,of ,,the ,,whip4--,,trotting4--,,cantering4--,,ri ding ,,from ,,balance4--,,use ,,of ,,the ,,stirrup4 --,,leaping4--,,whyte ,,melville',s ,,opinion4 ,having now seen that your bridle1 saddle1 and stirrup are in proper order1 you prepare to mount1 and this will probably take you some time and practice to accomplish gracefully1 being quite an art in itself4 ,nothing is more atrocious than to see a lady require a chair to mount her animal1 or hang midway against the side of the saddle when her cavalier gives her the helping hand4 ,lay your right hand firmly upon the pommel of your saddle1 and the left upon the shoulder of your attendant1 in whose hand you place your left foot4 ,have ready some signal sentence1 as ,make ready1 go6 or one1 two1 three6 ,immediately upon pronouncing the last syllable make your spring1 and if your attendant does his duty properly you will find yourself seated deftly upon your saddle4 ,as ,i have already stated1 this requires practice1 and you must not be disappointed if a week or so of failure ensues between trial and success4 ,as soon as you are firmly seated1 take your rein 7which1 as ,i have said1 should be a single one7 and adjust it thus4 ,place the near side under the little finger of your left hand1 and the off one between your first and second fingers1 bringing both in front toward the right hand1 and holding them securely in their place with the pressure of your thumb4 ,this is merely a hint as to the simplest method for a beginner to adopt1 for there is really no fixed rule for holding reins1 nor must you at all times hold them in one hand only1 but frequently--and always when hunting--put both hands firmly to your bridle4 ,anything stiff or stereotyped is to be avoided4 ,a good rider1 such as we hope you will soon become1 will change her reins about1 and move her position upon the saddle1 so as to be able to watch the surrounding scenery--always moving gracefully1 and without any abrupt or spasmodic jerkings1 which are just as objectionable as the poker-like rigidity which ,i wish you to avoid4 ,how common it is to see ladies on horseback sitting as though they were afraid to budge a hair1 with pinioned elbows and straightly-staring eyes4 ,this is most objectionable2 in fact1 nothing can be more unsightly4 ,a graceful1 easy seat1 is a good horsewoman's chief characteristic4 ,she is not afraid of tumbling off1 and so she does not look as though she were so2 moreover1 she has been properly taught in the commencement1 and all such defects have been rectified by a careful supervision4 ,with regard to your whip1 it must be held point downwards1 and if you have occasion to touch your horse1 give it to him down the shoulder1 but always with temperance and kindly judgment4 ,i once had a riding-master who desired me to hold my whip balanced in three fingers of my right hand1 point upwards1 the hand itself being absurdly bowed and the little finger stuck straight out like a wooden projection4 ,my natural good sense induced me to rebel against anything so completely ridiculous1 and ,i quietly asked my teacher why ,i was to carry my whip in that particular position4 ,his answer was--,oh1 that you may have it ready to strike your horse on the neck4 ,shades of ,diana6 this is the way our daughters are taught in schools1 and we marvel that they show so little for the heaps of money which we hopefully expend upon them4 ,being then fairly seated upon your saddle1 your skirt drawn down and arranged by your attendant1 your reins in your hand and your whip arranged1 you must proceed to walk your horse quietly around the enclosure1 having first gently drawn your bridle through his mouth4 ,you will feel very strange at first3 much as though you were on the back of a dromedary and were completely at his mercy4 ,sit perfectly straight and erect1 but without stiffness4 ,be careful not to hang over upon either side1 and1 above all things1 avoid the pernicious habit of clutching nervously with the right hand at the off pommel to save yourself from some imaginary danger4 ,so much does this unsightly habit grow upon beginners1 that1 unless checked1 it will follow them through life4 ,i know grown women who ride every day1 and the very moment their horse breaks into a canter or a trot they lay a grim grip upon the pommel1 and hold firmly on to it until the animal again lapses into a walk4 ,and this they do unconsciously4 ,the habit1 given way to in childhood1 has grown so much into second nature that to tell them of it would amaze them4 ,i once ventured to offer a gentle remonstrance upon the subject to a lady with whom ,i was extremely intimate1 and she was not only astonished1 but so displeased with me for noticing it1 that she was never quite the same to me afterwards2 and so salutary was the lesson which ,i then received that ,i have since gone upon the principle of complete non-interference1 and if ,i saw my fellow equestriennes riding gravely upon their horses' heads ,i would not suggest the rationality of transferring their weight to the saddle4 ,and this theory is a good one1 or at least a wise one2 for humanity is so inordinately conceited that it will never take a hint kindly1 unless asked for2 and not always even then4 ,to sit erect upon your saddle is a point of great importance2 if you acquire a habit of stooping it will grow upon you1 and it is not only a great disfigurement1 but not unfrequently a cause of serious accident1 for if your horse suddenly throws up his head1 he hits you upon the nose1 and deprives you of more blood than you may be able to replace in a good while4 ,as soon as you can feel yourself quite at home upon your mount1 and have become accustomed to its walking motion1 your attendant will urge him into a gentle trot4 ,and now prepare yourself for the beginning of sorrows4 ,your first sensation will be that of being shaken to pieces4 ,you are1 of course1 yet quite ignorant of the art of rising in your saddle1 and the trot of the horse fairly churns you4 ,your hat shakes1 your hair flaps1 your elbows bang to your sides1 you are altogether miserable4 ,still1 you hold on bravely1 though you are ready to cry from the horrors of the situation4 ,your attendant1 by way of relieving you1 changes the trot to a canter1 and then you are suddenly transported to ,elysium4 ,the motion is heavenly4 ,you have nothing to do but sit close to your saddle1 and you are borne delightfully along4 ,it is too ecstatic to last4 ,alas6 it will never teach you to ride1 and so you return to the trot and the shaking and the jogging1 the horrors of which are worse than anything you have ever previously experienced4 ,you try vainly to give yourself some ease1 but fail utterly1 and at length dismount--hot1 tired1 and disheartened4 ,but against this latter you must resolutely fight4 ,remember that nothing can be learned without trouble1 and by-and-by you will be repaid4 ,it is not everybody who has the gift of perseverance1 and it is an invaluable attribute4 ,it is a fact frequently commented upon1 not alone by me but by many others also1 that if you go for the hiring of a horse to any ,london livery-stable you will be sent a good-looking beast enough1 but he will not be able to trot a yard4 ,canter1 canter1 is all that he can do4 ,and why8 ,he is kept for the express purpose of carrying young ladies in the ,row1 and these young ladies have never learnt to trot4 ,they can dress themselves as vanity suggests in fashionably-cut habits1 suffer themselves to be lifted to the saddle1 and sit there1 looking elegant and pretty1 whilst their horse canters gaily down the long ride2 but were the animal to break into a trot 7which he is far too well tutored to attempt to do71 they would soon present the same shaken1 dilapidated1 dishevelled1 and utterly miserable appearance which you yourself do after your first experience of the difficulties which a learner has to encounter4 ,the art of rising in the saddle is said to have been invented by one ,dan ,seffert1 a very famous steeplechase jockey1 who had1 ,i believe1 been a riding-master in the days of his youth4 ,if this be true--which there is no reason to doubt--we have certainly to thank him1 for it is a vast improvement upon the jog-trot adopted by the cavalry1 which1 however well it may suit them and impart uniformity of motion to their line-riding1 is not by any means suited to a lady1 either for appearances or for purposes of health4 ,you come up for your next day's lesson in a very solemn mood4 ,you are1 in fact1 considerably sobered4 ,you had thought it was all plain sailing3 it looked so easy4 ,you had seen hundreds of persons riding1 trotting1 and even setting off to hunt1 and had never dreamed that there had been any trouble in learning4 ,now you know the difficulties and what is before you4 ,you recall your sufferings during your first days upon the ice1 or on the rink4 ,how utterly impossible it seemed that you could ever excel2 how you tumbled about2 how miserably helpless you felt1 and how many heavy falls you got6 ,yet you conquered in the end1 and so you will again4 ,you take courage and mount your steed4 ,first you walk him a little1 as yesterday2 and then the jolting begins again4 ,how are you ever to get into that rise and fall which you have seen with others1 and so much covet8 ,how are you to accomplish it8 ,only by doing as ,i tell you1 and persevering in it4 ,as your horse throws out his near foreleg press your foot upon your stirrup1 in time to lift yourself slightly as his off foreleg is next thrown out4 ,watch the motion of his legs1 press your foot1 and at the same time slightly lift yourself from your saddle4 ,for a long while1 many days perhaps1 it will seem to be all wrong2 you have not got into it one bit2 you are just as far from it apparently as when you commenced4 ,you are hot and vexed1 and you1 perhaps1 cry with mortification and disappointment1 as ,i have seen many a young beginner do2 bitterly worried and disheartened you are1 and ready to give up1 when1 lo6 quite suddenly1 as though it had come to you by magic and not through your own steady perseverance1 you find yourself rising and falling with the trot of the horse1 and your labours are rewarded4 ,after this your lessons are a source of delight4 ,you no longer come from them flushed and worried1 but joyous and exultant and impatient for the next4 ,you have begun to feel quite brave1 and to throw out hints that you are longing for a good ride on the road4 ,you now know how to make your horse trot and canter2 the first by a light touch of your whip and a gentle movement of your bridle through his mouth2 the second by a slight bearing of the rein upon the near side of his mouth1 so as to make him go off upon the right leg1 and a little warning touch of your heel4 ,you fancy1 in fact1 that you are quite a horsewoman1 and have already rolled up your hair into a neat knot1 and hinted to papa that you should greatly like a habit4 ,but1 alas6 you have plenty of trouble yet before you1 plenty to learn1 plenty of falls to get and to bear4 ,at present you can ride fairly well on the straight2 but you know nothing of keeping your balance in time of danger4 ,your horse is very quiet1 but if he chanced to put back his ears you would be off4 ,you are taught to maintain your balance in the following way3-- ,your attendant waits until your horse is cantering pretty briskly in a circle from left to right1 when he suddenly cracks his whip close to the animal's heels1 who immediately swerves and turns the other way4 ,you have had no warning of the movement1 and consequently you tumble off1 and are put up again1 feeling a little shaken and a good deal crestfallen4 ,most likely you will fall again and again1 until you have thoroughly mastered the art of riding from balance4 ,this is a method ,i have seen adopted1 especially in schools1 with considerable success1 but it is certainly attended with inconvenience to the learner1 and with a goodly portion of the risk from falls which all who ride must of necessity run4 ,to ride well from balance is not a thing which can be accomplished in a day1 nor a month1 nor perhaps a year4 ,many pass a life-time without practically comprehending the meaning of the term4 ,they ride every day1 hold on to the bridle1 guide their horses1 and trust to chance for the rest2 but this is not true horsemanship4 ,it could no more be called riding than could a piece of mechanical pianoforte-playing be termed music4 ,when you have1 after much difficulty and delay1 mastered the obstacles which marred your progress1 you will then have the happy consciousness of feeling that however your horse may shy or swerve1 or otherwise depart from his good manners1 you can sit him with the ease and closeness of a young centaur4 ,this art of riding from balance is not half sufficiently known4 ,it is one most difficult to acquire1 but the study is worth the labour4 ,nine-tenths of the lady equestrians1 and perhaps even a greater number of gentlemen1 ride from the horse's head2 a detestable practice which cannot be too highly condemned4 ,i must also warn you against placing too much stress upon the stirrup when your horse is trotting4 ,you must bear in mind that the stirrup is intended for a support for the foot--not to be ridden from4 ,by placing your right leg firmly around the up-pommel1 and pressing the left knee against the leaping-head1 you can accomplish the rise in your saddle with slight assistance from the stirrup2 and this is the proper way to ride4 ,the lazy1 careless habit into which many women fall1 of resting the entire weight of the body upon the stirrup1 not only frequently causes the leathers to snap at most inconvenient times1 but is the lamentable cause of half the sore backs and ugly galls from which poor horses suffer so severely4 ,having at length perfected yourself in walking1 trotting1 cantering1 and riding from balance1 you have only to acquire the art of leaping--and then you will be finished1 so far as teaching can make you so4 ,experience must do the rest4 ,it is a good thing1 when learning1 to mount as many different horses as you possibly can2 always1 of course1 taking care that they are sufficiently trained not to endeavour to master you4 ,horses vary immensely in their action and gait of going3 so much so1 that if you do not accustom yourself to a variety you will take your ideas from one alone1 and will1 when put upon a strange animal1 find yourself completely at sea4 ,do not suffer anything to induce you to take your first leap over a bar or pole similar to those used in schools4 ,the horse sees the daylight under it1 knows well that it is a sham1 goes at it unwillingly1 does not half rise to it1 drops his heels when in the air1 and knocks it down with a crash1--only to do the same thing a second time1 and a third1 and a fourth also1 if urged to do that which he despises4 ,choose a nice little hurdle about two feet high1 well interwoven with gorse2 trot your horse gently up to it1 and let him see what it is2 then1 turn him back and send him at it1 sitting close glued to your saddle1 with a firm but gentle grip of your reins1 and your hands held low4 ,to throw up the hands is a habit with all beginners1 and should at once be checked4 ,fifty to one you will stick on all right1 and1 if you come off1 why it's many a good man's case1 and you must regard it as one of the chances of war4 ,the next day you may have the gorse raised another half-foot above the hurdle1 and so on by degrees1 until you can sit with ease over a jump of five feet4 ,always bear in mind to keep your hands quite down upon your horse's withers1 and never interfere with his mouth4 ,sit well back1 leave him his head1 and he will not make a mistake4 ,of course1 ,i am again surmising that he has been properly trained1 and that you alone are the novice4 ,to put a learner upon an untrained animal would be a piece of folly1 not to say of wickedness1 of which we hope nobody in this age of enlightenment would dream of being guilty4 ,in jumping a fence or hurdle do not leave your reins quite slack2 hold them lightly but firmly1 as your horse should jump against his bridle1 but do not pull him4 ,a gentle support is alone necessary4 ,that absurd and vulgar theory about lifting a horse at his fences1 so freely affected by the ignorant youth of the present day1 cannot be too strongly deprecated4 ,that same lifting has broken more horses' shoulders and more asses' necks than anything else on record4 ,a good hunter with a bad rider upon his back will actually shake his head free on coming up to a fence4 ,he knows that he cannot do what is expected of him if his mouth is to be chucked and worried1 any more than you or ,i could under similar circumstances1 and so he asserts his liberty4 ,how often1 in a steeplechase1 one horse early deprived of his rider will voluntarily go the whole course and jump every obstacle in perfect safety1 even with the reins dangling about his legs1 yet never make a mistake2 whilst a score or so of compeers will be tumbling at every fence4 ,and why8 ,the answer is plain and simple4 ,the free horse has his head1 and his instinct tells him where to put his feet2 whereas the animals with riders upon their backs are dragged and pulled and sawn at1 until irritation deprives them of sense and sight1 and1 rushing wildly at their fences 7probably getting another tug at the moment of rising71 they fall1 and so extinguish their chance of a win4 ,i do not1 of course1 in saying this1 mean for a moment to question the judgment and horsemanship of very many excellent jockeys1 whose ability is beyond comment and their riding without reproach4 ,i speak of the rule1 not of the few exceptions4 ,half the horses who fall in the hunting-field are thrown down by their riders2 this is a fact too obvious to be contradicted4 ,men over-riding their horses1 treating them with needless cruelty1 riding them when already beaten3 these are the fruitful causes of falls in the field1 together with that most objectionable practice of striving to lift an animal who knows his duties far better than the man upon his back4 ,it is a pity1 and my heart has often bled to see how the noblest of ,god's created things is ill-treated and abused by the human brute who styles himself the master4 ,it is1 indeed1 a disgrace to our humanity that this priceless creature1 given to a man with a mind highly wrought1 sensitive1 yearning for kindness1 and capable of appreciating each word and look of the being whose willing slave it is1 should be treated with cruelty1 and in too many cases regarded but as a sort of machine to do the master's bidding4 ,who has not seen1 and mourned to see1 the tired1 patient horse1 spurred and dragged at by a remorseless rider1 struggling gamely forward in the hunting-field1 with bleeding mouth and heaving1 bloody flanks1 to enable a cruel task-master to see the end of a second run1 and even of a third1 after having carried him gallantly through a long and intricate first8 ,it is a piece of inhumanity which all humane riders see and deplore every day throughout the hunting season4 ,we cannot stop it1 but we can speak against it and write it down1 and discountenance it in every possible way1 as we are all bound to do4 ,why will not men be brought to see that in abusing their horses they are compassing their own loss8 that in taxing the powers of a beaten animal they are riding for a fall1 and are consequently endangering the life which ,god has given them8 ,there is much to be learnt in the art of fencing besides hurdle-leaping4 ,a good timber-jumper will often take a ditch or drain in a very indifferent manner4 ,i have seen a horse jump a five-barred gate in magnificent style1 yet fall short into a comparatively narrow ditch2 and vice versa2 therefore1 various kinds of jumps must be kept up1 persevered in1 and kept constantly in practice4 ,two things must always be preserved in view2 never sit loosely in your saddle1 and always ride well from balance1 never from your horse's head4 ,in taking an up jump leave him abundance of head-room1 and sit well back1 lest in his effort he knock you in the face4 ,if the jump is a down one--what is known as an ugly drop--follow the same rules2 but1 when your horse is landing1 give him good support from the bridle1 as1 should the ground be at all soft or marshy1 he might be apt to peck1 and so give you an ugly fall4 ,it is a disputed point whether or not horses like jumping4 ,i am inclined to coincide in poor ,whyte-,melville's opinion that they do not4 ,he was a good authority upon most subjects connected with equine matters1 and so he ought to know2 but of one thing ,i am positively certain3 they abhor schooling4 ,however a horse may tolerate or even enjoy a good fast scurry with hounds1 there can be no doubt that he greatly dislikes being brought to his fences in cold blood4 ,he has not1 when schooling1 the impetus which sends him along1 nor the example or excitement to be met with in the hunting-field4 ,the horse is naturally a timid animal1 and this is why he so frequently stops short at his fences when schooling4 ,he mistrusts his own powers4 ,when running with hounds he is borne along by speed and by excitement1 and so goes skying over obstacles which appal him when trotted quietly to them on a schooling day4 ,it is just the difference which an actor feels between a chilling rehearsal and the night performance1 when the theatre is crowded and the clapping of hands and the shouting of approving voices lend life and spirit to the part he plays4 ,you will probably get more falls whilst schooling than ever you will get in the hunting-field1 but a few weeks' steady practice over good artificial fences or a nice natural country1 will give you a firm seat and an amount of confidence which will stand to you as friends4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,park ,,and ,,road ,,riding4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,how ,,to ,,dress4--,a ,,country-,,girl',s ,,ideas ,,upon ,,the ,,subject4--,,how ,,to ,,put ,,on ,,your ,,riding-,,gear4--,,how ,,to ,,preserve ,,it4--,,first ,,road-,,ride4--,,backing4 --,,rearing1 ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,prevent ,,it4 ,having now mastered the art of riding1 you will of course be desirous of appearing in the parks and on the public roadways1 and exhibiting the prowess which it has cost you so much to gain4 ,for your outfit you will require1 in addition to the articles already in your possession1 a nice well-made habit of dark cloth4 ,if you are a very young girl1 grey will be the most suitable2 if not1 dark blue4 ,if you live in ,london1 pay a visit to ,mayfair1 and get ,mr4 ,wolmershausen to make it for you2 if in ,dublin1 ,mr4 ,scott1 of ,sackville ,street1 will do equally well2 indeed1 for any sort of riding-gear1 ladies' or gentlemen's1 he is not to be excelled4 ,if you are not within easy distance of a city1 go to the best tailor you can1 and give him directions1 which he must not be above taking4 ,skirt to reach six inches below the foot1 well shaped for the knee1 and neatly shotted at end of hem just below the right foot2 elastic band upon inner side1 to catch the left toe1 and to retain the skirt in its place4 ,it should be made tight and spare1 without one inch of superfluous cloth2 jacket close-fitting1 but sufficiently easy to avoid even the suspicion of being squeezed2 sleeves perfectly tight1 except at the setting on1 where a slight puffiness over the shoulder should give the appearance of increased width of chest4 ,no braiding nor ornamentation of any sort to appear4 ,a small neat linen collar1 upright shape1 with cuffs to correspond1 should be worn with the habit1 no frilling nor fancy work being admissible--the collar to be fastened with a plain gold or silver stud4 ,the nicest hat to ride in is an ordinary silk one1 much lower than they are usually made1 and generally requiring to be manufactured purposely to fit and suit the head4 ,of course1 if you are a young girl1 the melon shape will not be unsuitable1 but the other is more in keeping1 more becoming1 and vastly more economical in the end1 although few can be induced to believe this4 ,it is the custom in many households to purchase articles for their cheapness1 without any regard to quality or durability1 and this you should endeavour to avoid4 ,speaking from experience1 the best things are always the cheapest4 ,i pay from a guinea to a guinea and a half for a good silk hat1 and find that it wears out four felt ones of the quality usually sold at ten and sixpence4 ,there is no ,london house at which you can procure better articles or better value than at ,lincoln1 ,bennett1 ,co41 ,sackville ,street1 ,piccadilly4 ,for nearly half a century they have been the possessors of an admirable contrivance1 which should be seen to be appreciated1 by which not alone is the size of the head ascertained1 but its precise shape is definitely marked and suited1 thus avoiding all possibility of that distressing pressure upon the temples1 which is a fruitful source of headache and discomfort to so many riders4 ,hats made at this firm require no elastics--if it be considered desirable to dispense with such--as the fit is guaranteed4 ,never wear a veil on horseback1 except it be a black one1 and nothing with a border looks well4 ,a plain band of spotted net1 just reaching below the nostrils1 and gathered away into a neat knot behind1 is the most distingue4 ,do not wear anything sufficiently long to cover the mouth1 or it will cause you inconvenience on wet and frosty days4 ,for dusty roads a black gauze veil will be found useful1 but avoid1 as you would poison1 every temptation to wear even the faintest scrap of colour on horseback4 ,all such atrocities as blue and green veils have happily long since vanished1 but1 even still1 a red bow1 a gaudy flower stuck in the button-hole1 and1 oh1 horror of horrors6 a pocket handkerchief appearing at an opening in the bosom1 looking like a miniature fomentation--these still occasionally shock the eyes of sensitive persons1 and cause us to marvel at the wearer's bad taste4 ,i was once asked to take a young lady with me for a ride in the park1 to witness a field-day1 or polo match1 or something or another of especial interest which happened to be going forward4 ,i would generally prefer being asked to face a battery of ,zulus rather than act as chaperone to young lady equestriennes1 who are usually ignorant of riding1 and insufferably badly turned out4 ,however1 upon this occasion ,i could not refuse4 ,the lady's parents were kind1 amiable country folks1 who had invested a portion of their wealth in sending their daughter up to town to get lessons from a fashionable riding-master1 and to ride out with whomsoever might be induced to take her4 ,well1 the young lady's horse was the first arrival3 a hired hack--usual style2 bones protruding--knees well over--rusty bridle--greasy reins--dirty girths--and dilapidated saddle1 indifferently polished up for the occasion4 ,the young lady herself came next1 stepping daintily out of a cab1 as though she were quite mistress of the situation4 ,ye gods6 ,what a get up6 ,i was positively electrified4 ,her habit--certainly well made--was of bright blue cloth1 with worked frills at the throat and wrists4 ,she wore a brilliant knot of scarlet ribbon at her neck1 and a huge bouquet in her button-hole4 ,her hat was a silk one1 set right on the back of her head1 with a velvet rosettte and steel buckle in front1 and a long veil of grey gauze streaming out behind4 ,when we add orange gloves1 and a riding-whip with a gaudy tassel appended to it1 you have the details of a costume at once singular and unique4 ,i did not at first know whether to get a sudden attack of the measles or the toothache1 and send her out with my groom to escort her1 but discarding the thought as ill-natured1 ,i compromised matters by bringing her to my own room1 and effecting alterations in her toilet which soon gave her a more civilised appearance4 ,i set the hat straight upon her head1 and bound it securely in its place1 removed from it the gauze and buckle1 and tied on one of my own plain black veils of simple spotted net4 ,i could not do away with the frillings1 for they were stitched on as though they were never meant to come off2 but the red bow ,i replaced with a silver arrow1 threw away the flowers1 removed the whip-tassel1 and substituted a pair of my own gloves for the cherished orange kid4 ,then we set out4 ,i wanted to go a quiet way to the park1 so as to avoid the streets of the town1 but she would not have it4 ,nothing would do that girl but to go bang through the most crowded parts of the city1 the hired hack sliding over the asphalte1 and the rider 7all unconscious of her danger7 bowing delightedly to her acquaintances as she passed along4 ,poor girl6 that first day out of the riding-school was a gala day for her4 ,the nicest gloves for riding are pale cream leather1 worked thickly on the backs with black4 ,a few pairs of these will keep you going1 for they clean beautifully4 ,a plain riding-whip without a tassel1 and a second habit of dark holland if you live in the country1 will complete your necessary outfit4 ,i shall now give you a few hints as to the best method of putting on your riding gear1 and of preserving the same after rain or hard weather4 ,your habit-maker will1 of course1 put large hooks around the waist of your bodice1 and eyes of corresponding size attached to the skirt1 so that both may be kept in their place1 but if you have been obliged to entrust your cloth to a country practitioner1 who has neglected these minor necessaries1 be sure you look to them yourself1 or you will some day find that the opening of your skirt is right at your back1 and that the place shaped out for your knee has twisted round until it hangs in unsightly crookedness in front of the buttons of your bodice4 ,let it be a rule with you to avoid using any pins4 ,put two or three neat stitches in the back of your collar1 so as to affix it to your jacket1 having first measured to see that the ends shall meet exactly evenly in front1 where you will fasten them neatly with a stud4 ,the ordinary system of placing one pin at the back of the collar and one at either end is much to be deprecated4 ,frequently one of these pins becomes undone1 and then the discomfort is incalculable1 especially if1 as often occurs1 you are out for a long day1 and nobody happens to be able to accommodate you with another4 ,pinning cuffs is also a reprehensible habit1 for the reason just stated4 ,two or three little stitches where they will not show1 upon the inner side of the sleeve1 will hold the cuff securely in its place and prevent it turning round or slipping up or down1 any of which will be calculated to cause discomfort to the rider4 ,it is not a bad method1 either1 to stitch a small button at the back of the neck of the jacket1 upon the inner side1 upon which the collar can be secured1 fastening the cuffs in the same manner to buttons attached to the inner portion of each sleeve4 ,in short1 anything in the shape of a device which will check the unseemly habit of using a multiplicity of pins1 may be regarded as a welcome innovation1 and at once adopted4 ,it is a good plan1 when you undress from your ride1 to ascertain whether your collar and cuffs are sufficiently clean to serve you another day1 and if they are not1 replace them at once by fresh ones2 for it may happen that when you go to attire yourself for your next ride1 you may he too hurried to look after what should always be a positive necessity1 namely1 perfectly spotless linen4 ,there is a material1 invented in ,america and as yet but little known amongst us here1 which is invaluable to all who ride4 ,it is called ,celluloid1 and from it collars1 cuffs1 and shirt-fronts are manufactured which resemble the finest and whitest linen1 yet which never spot1 never crush1 never become limp1 and never require washing1 save as one would wash a china saucer1 in a basin of clear water1 using a fine soft towel for the drying process4 ,i do not know the nature of the composition1 but ,i can certainly bear testimony to its worth1 and being inexpensive as well as convenient1 it cannot fail1 when known1 to become highly popular4 ,the adjusting of your hat is another important item4 ,stitch a piece of black elastic 7the single-cord round kind is the best7 from one side--the inner one of course--to the other1 of just sufficient length to catch well beneath your hair4 ,this elastic you can stretch over the leaf of your hat at the back1 and then1 when the hat is on and nicely adjusted to your taste in front1 you have only to put back your hand and bring the band of elastic deftly under your hair4 ,the hat will then be immovable1 and the elastic will not show4 ,in fastening your veil1 a short steel pin with a round black head is the best4 ,the steel slips easily through the leaf of the hat1 and the head1 being glossy and large1 is easily found without groping or delay1 whenever you may desire to divest yourself of it4 ,i shall now tell you how to proceed with the various items of your toilet on coming home1 after being overtaken by stress of weather4 ,no matter how wealthy you may be1 or how many servants you may be entitled to keep1 always look after these things yourself4 ,hang the skirt of your habit upon a clothes-horse1 with a stick placed across inside to extend it fully4 ,leave it until thoroughly dry1 and then brush carefully4 ,the bodice must be hung in a cool dry place1 but never placed near the fire1 or the cloth will shrink1 and probably discolour4 ,dip your veil into clear cold water1 give it one or two gentle squeezes1 shake it out1 and hang it on a line1 spreading it neatly with your fingers1 so that it may take no fold in the drying4 ,your hat comes next4 ,dip a fine small ,turkey sponge1 kept for the purpose and freed from sand1 into a basin of lukewarm water1 and draw it carefully around the hat4 ,repeat the process1 going over every portion of it1 until crown1 leaf1 and all are thoroughly cleansed2 then hang in a cool1 airy place to dry4 ,in the morning take a soft brush1 which use gently over the entire surface1 and you will have a perfectly new hat4 ,no matter how shabby may have been your headpiece1 it will be quite restored1 and will look all the better for its washing4 ,this is one of the chief advantages of silk hats4 ,do not omit to brush after the washing and drying process1 or your hat will have that unsightly appearance of having been ironed1 which is so frequently seen in the hunting-field1 because gentlemen who are valeted on returning from their sport care nothing about the management of their gear1 but leave it all to the valet1 who gives the hat the necessary washing1 but is too lazy or too careless to brush it next day1 and his master takes it from his hand and puts it on without ever noticing its unsightliness4 ,sometimes it is the master himself whose clumsy handiwork is to blame2 but be it master or servant1 the result is too often the same4 ,should your gloves be thoroughly1 or even slightly wetted1 stretch them upon a pair of wooden hands kept for the purpose1 and if they are the kind which ,i have recommended to you--,i mean the best quality of double-stitched cream leather--they will be little the worse4 ,having now1 ,i think1 exhausted the subject of your clothing1 and given you all the friendly hints in my power1 ,i am ready to accompany you upon your first road ride4 ,go out with every confidence1 accompanied of course by a companion or attendant1 and make up your mind never to be caught napping1 but to be ever on the alert4 ,you must not lose sight of the fact that a bird flitting suddenly across1 a donkey's head laid without warning against a gate1 a goat's horns appearing over a wall1 or even a piece of paper blown along upon the ground1 may cause your horse to shy1 and if you are not sitting close at the time1 woe betide you6 ,always remember the rule of the road1 keep to your left-hand side1 and if you have to pass a vehicle going your way1 do so on the right of it4 ,never neglect this axiom1 no matter how lonely and deserted the highway may appear1 for recollect that if you fail to comply with it1 and that any accident chances to occur1 you will get all the blame1 and receive no compensation4 ,never trot your horse upon a hard road when you have a bit of grass at the side on which you can canter him4 ,even if there are only a few blades it will be sufficient to take the jar off his feet4 ,if you meet with a hill or high bridge1 trot him up and walk him quietly down the other side4 ,if going down a steep decline1 sit well back and leave him his head1 at the same time keeping a watchful hand upon the rein for fear he should chance to make a false step1 that you may be able to pull him up2 but do not hold him tightly in1 as many timid riders are apt to do1 thus hobbling his movements and preventing him seeing where he is to put his feet4 ,if he has to clamber a steep hill with you1 leave him unlimited head-room1 for it is a great ease to a horse to be able to stretch his neck1 instead of being held tightly in by nervous hands1 which is frequently the occasion of his stumbling4 ,should your horse show temper and attempt to back with you1 leave him the rein1 touch him lightly with your heel1 and speak encouragingly to him2 should he persist1 your attendant must look to the matter2 but a horse who possesses this dangerous vice should never be ridden by a lady4 ,i have surmised that yours has been properly trained1 and doubtless you might ride for the greater portion of a lifetime without having to encounter a decided jibber1 but it is as well to be prepared for all emergencies4 ,should a horse at any time rear with you1 throw the rein loose1 sit close1 and bring your whip sharply across his flank4 ,if this is not effectual1 you may give him the butt-end of it between the ears1 which will be pretty sure to bring him down4 ,this is a point1 however1 upon which ,i write with considerable reserve1 for many really excellent riders find fault with the theory set forth and adopted by me4 ,one old sportsman in particular shows practically how seriously he objects to it by suffering himself to be tumbled back upon almost daily by a vicious animal1 in preference to adopting coercive measures for his own safety4 ,my reasons for striking a rearing horse are set forth with tolerable clearness in one of the letters which form an appendix to this volume2 but1 although ,i do it myself1 ,i do not undertake the responsibility of advising others to do likewise1 especially if a nervous timidity form a portion of their nature4 ,i am strongly of opinion1 however1 that decisive measures are at times an absolute necessity1 and that the most effectual remedy for an evil is invariably the best to adopt4 ,i have heard it said by two very eminent horsemen that to break a bottle of water between the ears of a rearing animal is an excellent and effectual cure4 ,perhaps it may be--and1 on such authority1 we must suppose that it is--but ,i should not care to be the one to try it1 although ,i consider no preventive measure too strong to adopt when dealing with so dangerous a vice4 ,a horse may be guilty of jibbing1 bolting1 kicking1 or almost any other fault1 through nervousness or timidity1 but rearing is a vicious trick1 and must be treated with prompt determination4 ,it would be useless to speak encouragingly to a rearer2 he is vexing you from vice1 not from nervousness1 and so he needs no reassurance--do not waste words upon him1 but bring him to his senses with promptitude1 or whilst you are dallying he may tumble back upon you1 and put remonstrance out of your power for some time to come1 if not for ever4 ,in striking him1 if you do so1 do not indulge in the belief that you are safe because he drops quickly upon his fore-legs1 but on the contrary1 be fully prepared for the kick or buck which will be pretty sure to follow1 and which 7unless watched for7 will be likely to unseat even a most skilful rider4 ,both rearing and plunging may1 however1 be effectually prevented by using the circular bit and martingale1 procurable at ,messrs4 ,davis1 saddlers1 #ad1 ,strand1 ,london4 ,this admirable contrivance should be fitted above the mouthpiece of an ordinary snaffle or ,pelham bridle4 ,it is infinitely before any other which ,i have seen used for the same purpose1 has quite a separate headstall1 and should be put on and arranged before the addition of the customary bridle4 ,being secured to the breastplate by a standing martingale1 it requires no reins4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,running ,,away4--,,three ,,dangerous ,,adventures4--,,how ,,to ,,act ,,when ,,placed ,,in ,,circumstances ,,of ,,peril4--,,how ,,to ,,ride ,a ,,puller4--,,through ,,the ,,city4--,,to ,a ,,meet ,,of ,,hounds4--,,boastful ,,ladies4--,a ,,braggart',s ,,resource4 ,in the event of a horse running away1 you must of course be guided by circumstances and surroundings1 but my advice always is1 if you have a fair road before you1 let him go4 ,do not attempt to hold him in1 for the support which you afford him with the bridle only helps the mischief4 ,leave his head quite loose1 and when you feel him beginning to tire--which he will soon do without the support of the rein--flog him until he is ready to stand still4 ,i warrant that a horse treated thus1 especially if you can breast him up hill1 will rarely run away a second time4 ,he never forgets his punishment1 nor seeks to put himself in for a repetition of it4 ,i have been run away with three times in my life1 but never a second time by the same horse4 ,it may amuse you to hear how ,i escaped upon each occasion4 ,the first time1 ,i was riding a beautiful little thoroughbred mare1 which a dear lady friend--now1 alas6 dead--had asked me to try for her4 ,the mare had been a flat-racer1 and1 having broken down in one of her trials1 had been purchased at a cheap rate1 being still possessed of beauty and a considerable turn of speed4 ,well1 we got on splendidly together for an hour or so on the fifteen acres1 ,phoenix ,park1 but1 when returning homewards1 some boys who were playing close by struck her with a ball on the leg4 ,in a second she was off like the wind1 tearing down the long road which leads from the ,phoenix to the gates4 ,she had the bit between her teeth1 and held it like a vice4 ,my only fear was lest she should lose her footing and fall1 for the roadway was covered from edge to edge with new shingle4 ,on she went in her mad career1 amidst the shrieks of thousands1 for the day was ,easter ,monday1 and the park was crowded4 ,soldiers1 civilians1 lines of policemen strove to form a barrier for her arrest4 ,in vain6 ,she knocked down some1 fled past others1 and continued her headlong course4 ,all this time ,i was sitting as if glued to my saddle4 ,at the mare's first starting ,i had endeavoured to pull her up1 but finding that this was hopeless1 ,i left the rein loose upon her neck4 ,having then no support for her head1 she soon tired1 and the instant ,i felt her speed relaxing ,i took up my whip and punished her within an inch of her life4 ,i made her go when she wanted to stop1 and only suffered her to pull up just within the gates1 where she stood covered with foam and trembling in every limb4 ,her owner subsequently told me that during the three years which she afterwards kept her she never rode so biddable a mare4 ,i must not forget to mention the comic side of the adventure as well as the more serious4 ,it struck me as being particularly ludicrous upon that memorable occasion that an old gentleman1 crimson with wrath1 actually attacked my servant in the most irate manner because he had not clattered after me during the progress of the mare's wild career4 ,how dare you1 sir1 cried this irascible old gentleman1 how dare you attempt to neglect your young lady in this cowardly manner8 ,nor was his anger at all appeased when informed that ,i as a matron was my own care-taker1 and that my attendant had strict injunctions not to follow me in the event of my horse being startled or running away4 ,my next adventure was much more serious1 and occurred also within the gates of the ,phoenix ,park4 ,some troops were going through a variety of manoeuvres preparing for a field-day1 and a knot of them had been posted behind and around a large tree with fixed bayonets in their hands4 ,suddenly they got the order to move1 and at the same instant the sun shone out and glinted brilliantly upon the glittering steel4 ,i was riding a horse which had lately been given me2 a fine1 raking chestnut1 with a temper of his own to manage4 ,he turned like a shot1 and sped away at untold speed4 ,i had no open space before me2 therefore ,i durst not let him go4 ,it was an enclosed portion of the park1 thickly studded with knots of trees1 and ,i knew that if he bore me through one of these my earthly career would most probably be ended4 ,i strove with all the strength and all the art which ,i possessed to pull him up4 ,it was of no use4 ,i might as well have been pulling at an oak-tree2 it only made him go the faster4 ,happily my presence of mind remained4 ,i saw at once that my only chance was to breast him against the rails of the cricket-ground1 and for these ,i made straight1 prepared for the shock and for the turn over which ,i knew must inevitably follow4 ,he dashed up to the rails1 and when within a couple of inches of them he swerved with an awful suddenness1 which1 only that ,i was accustomed to ride from balance1 must have at once unseated me1 and darted away at greater speed than ever4 ,right before me was a tree1 one heavy bough of which hung very low--and straight for this he made1 nor could ,i turn his course4 ,i knew my fate1 and bent on a level with my saddle1 but not low enough1 for the branch caught me in the forehead and sent me reeling senseless to the ground4 ,i soon got over the shock1 although my arm 7which was badly torn by a projecting branch7 gave me some trouble after2 but the bough was cut down the next day by order of the ,lord ,lieutenant1 and the park-rangers still point out the spot as the place where the lady was nearly killed4 ,my third runaway was a hunting adventure1 and occurred only a few months since4 ,i had a letter one morning from an old friend1 informing me that a drag-hunt was to take place about thirty miles from ,dublin to finish the season with the county harriers1 and that he1 my friend1 wished very much that ,i would come down in my habit by the mid-day train and ride a big bay horse of his1 respecting which he was desirous of obtaining my opinion4 ,i never take long to make up my mind1 so1 after a glance at my tablets1 which showed me that ,i was free for the day1 ,i donned my habit1 and caught the specified train4 ,at the station at the end of my journey ,i found the big bay saddled and awaiting me1 and having mounted him ,i set off for the kennels1 from a field near which the drag was to be run4 ,i took the huntsman for a pilot1 knowing that the servant1 who was my attendant1 was rather a duffer at the chase4 ,the instant that the hounds were laid on and the hunt started1 my big mount commenced to pull hard1 and by the time the first fence was reached his superior strength had completely mastered mine4 ,he was pulling like a steam-engine1 head down1 ears laid backward1 neck set like iron4 ,my blistered hands were powerless to hold him4 ,he rushed wildly at the fence1 and striking the horse of a lady who was just landing over it1 turned him and his rider a complete somersault6 ,i subsequently learned that the lady escaped unhurt1 but ,i could not at the moment pause to inquire1 for my huge mount1 clearing the jump and ten feet beyond it1 completely took head1 and bore me away from the field ,over park1 over pale1 ,through bush1 through briar1 until my head fairly reeled1 and ,i felt that some terrible calamity must ensue4 ,happily he was a glorious fencer1 or ,i must have perished1 for he jumped every obstacle with a rush2 staked fences1 wide ditches--so wide that he landed over them on his belly--tangled gorse1 and branches of rivers swollen by recent rains2 he flew them all4 ,at length1 when my strength was quite exhausted and my dizzy brain utterly powerless and confused1 ,i beheld before me a stone wall1 a high one1 with heavy coping-stones upon the top4 ,at this ,i resolved to breast him1 and run my chance for life or death in the turn over1 which1 from the pace at which we were approaching it1 ,i knew must be a mighty one4 ,in a moment we were up to it and1 with a cry to heaven for mercy1 ,i dug him with my spur and sent him at it4 ,to my utter astonishment1 for the wall was six and a half feet high1 he put down his head1 rushed at it1 cleared it without ever laying a shoe upon the topmost stones1 and landed with a frightful slip and clatter1 but still safely on his feet--where8 in the midst of a farm-yard4 ,were it not that this adventure actually occurred to myself1 ,i should be strongly tempted to question its authenticity4 ,that there are horses--especially ,irish ones--quite capable of compassing such a jump1 there cannot be the slightest doubt2 but ,i have never before or since seen one who could do it without being steadied as he approached the obstacle4 ,in the ordinary course of events a runaway steed would strike it with his head and turn over1--which was what ,i expected and desired--but no such thing occurred1 and to the latest hour of my life it must remain a mystery to me that upon the momentous occasion in question neither horse nor rider was injured1 nor did any accident ensue4 ,nothing more disastrous than a considerable disturbance in the farm-yard actually occurred2 but it was indeed a mighty one4 ,such a commotion amongst fowls was surely never witnessed2 the ducks quacked1 the turkeys screeched1 the hens ran hither and thither2 two pigs1 eating from a trough close by1 set up a most terrific squalling1 dogs barked1 and two or three women1 who were spreading clothes upon a line1 added to the general confusion by flinging down the garments with which they had been busy and taking to their heels1 shrieking vociferously4 ,in the meantime the big bay1 perceiving that he had run to the end of his tether1 stood snorting and foaming1 looking hither and thither in helpless amazement and dismay2 whilst ,i1 relieved at length of my anxiety1 burst first into tears1 and then into shouts of hearty laughter1 as ,i fully took in the absurdity of the situation4 ,after a considerable delay one of the women was induced to come forward and listen to a recital of my adventure2 and the others1 being assured that the baste would not actually devour them1 came near me also1 and we held an amicable council as to the possibility of my ever getting out1 for the gates were locked1 and the owner of the property was away at a fair in the neighbouring town and had the key stowed away in his pocket4 ,to jump the wall again was impracticable4 ,no horse that ever was foaled could do it in cool blood2 nor was ,i willing to risk the experiment1 even if my steed made no objection4 ,at length we decided upon the only plan4 ,i dismounted1 and1 taking the rein over my arm1 led my mighty hunter across the yard1 induced him to stoop his head to enter by a back door through a passage in the farmhouse1 and from thence through the kitchen and front door1 out on to the road4 ,i have a cheerful recollection of an old woman1 who was knitting in the chimney-corner1 going off into screams and hysterics as ,i and my big steed walked in upon her solitude1 a loose shoe and a very audible blowing making the entrance of my equine companion even more prononce than it would otherwise have been4 ,the poor old creature flung down her needles1 together with the cat which had been quietly reposing in her lap1 and kicking up her feet yelled and bellowed at the top of a very discordant voice4 ,it took the combined efforts of all four women to pacify her1 and she was still shrieking long after ,i had mounted the big bay and ridden him back to inform his owner of how charmingly he had behaved4 ,i have now told you three anecdotes1 partly for your amusement and partly for your instruction2 but ,i would not have you think that it would be at all times and under all circumstances a wise thing to ride a runaway horse against so formidable an obstacle as a stone wall4 ,mine was1 ,i hope1 an exceptional case4 ,when the animal was led down to meet me at the station1 ,i saw1 not without misgiving1 that ,i was destined to ride in a so-called safety-stirrup1 and at the time when he took head with me my foot was fixed as in a vice in this dangerous and horrible trap1 from which ,i could not succeed in releasing it4 ,feeling that my brain was whirling1 and that ,i could not longer maintain my seat in the saddle1 ,i rode for an overthrow1 which ,i deemed infinitely better than being dragged by the foot over an intricate country1 and most probably having my brains scattered by a pair of crashing heels4 ,if a horse should at any time run away with you1 keep your seat whilst you can do so1 and whilst you have anything of a fair road before you2 but if there is any danger of your being thrown or losing your seat whilst your foot is caught1 then by all means ride for a fall2 put your horse at something that will bring him down1 and when he is down struggle on to his head1 that he may not rise until somebody has come to your assistance4 ,of course the experiment is fraught with excessive danger1 but it is not certain death1 as the other alternative must undoubtedly be4 ,i cannot1 however1 wish you better than to hope most fervently that you may never be placed in a position which would necessitate your making a choice between two such mighty evils4 ,avoid riding strange horses4 ,no matter how accomplished a horsewoman you may become1 do not be too ready to comply with the request to try this or that unknown mount4 ,i have done it myself1 often1 and probably shall again2#a but my experience prompts me to warn others against a practice which is frequently fraught with danger to a lady4 ,a horse knows quite well when a strange or timid rider gets upon his back1 and if he does not kill you outright1 he will probably make such a hare of you as will not be at all agreeable1 either for yourself or for the lookers-on4 #a ,this was written previous to the accident which has disabled me4 ,whenever you take a young horse upon grass1 whether he be a stranger to you or otherwise1 be prepared for a certain show of friskiness which he does not usually exhibit upon the road4 ,the soft springy turf beneath his feet imbues him with feelings of hilarity which he finds himself powerless to resist1 and so you1 his rider1 must prepare for his little vagaries4 ,he will1 most probably1 in the first place try a succession of bucks1 and for these you must prepare by sitting very close to your saddle1 your knee well pressed against the leaping-head1 and your figure erect1 but not thrown back1 as the shock1 or shocks to your spine would in such a case be not only painful but positively dangerous1 and should therefore be carefully avoided4 ,he will next be likely to romp away1 pulling you much harder than is at all agreeable1 and seemingly inclined to take head with you altogether4 ,as a remedy against this you must neither yield to him nor pull against him4 ,i have heard fairly good riders advocate by turns both systems of management1 especially the former2 indeed1 the expression1 ,drop your hands to him1 has become so general amongst teachers of the equestrian art1 that it has almost passed into a proverb4 ,i do not advocate it1 nor do ,i deem it advisable ever to pull against a pulling horse4 ,when an animal tries to forereach you1 you should neither give up to him nor yet pull one ounce against him4 ,close your fingers firmly upon the reins and keep your arms perfectly motionless1 your hands well down1 without giving or taking one quarter of an inch4 ,in a stride or two he will be sure to yield to your hand1 at which moment you should immediately yield to him1 and his wondrous powers of intelligence will soon enable him to discern that you are not to be trifled with4 ,were you to give up to him when he rushes away or romps with his head he would very soon be going all abroad1 and would give you a vast amount of trouble to pull him into proper form4 ,above all things1 keep clear of trees1 of which ,i myself have an unbounded dread4 ,should you have occasion to ride through a city1 give your eyes and attention to your horse1 and not to passing acquaintances1 for in the present dangerous tangle of tramlines1 slippery pavements1 and ill-driven vehicles1 it will require all your energies to bring you safely through4 ,never trot your horse through a town or city3 walk him quietly through such portion of it as you have to pass1 and leave him abundant head-room1 that his intelligence may pick out a way for his own steps4 ,a very nice ride for a lady is to a meet of the hounds1 if such should occur within reasonable distance1 say from four to eight miles4 ,the sight is a very pretty one1 and there is not any reason why you should not thoroughly enjoy it2 but having only ridden to see the meet1 you must be careful not to interfere with1 nor get in the way of those about to ride the run4 ,nothing is more charming than to see three or four ladies1 nicely turned out1 arrive to grace the meet with their presence1 but nothing is more abominable than the same number of amazons coming galloping up in full hunting toggery1 although without the least idea of hunting1 and rushing hither and thither1 frightening the hounds and getting in everybody's way1 as though they were personages of the vastest possible importance1 and meant to ride with a skill not second to that of the ,nazares4 ,such women are the horror and spoliation of every hunting-field4 ,they dash off with the hounds the moment the fox is found1 but happily the first fence stops them1 and a fervent thankfulness is felt by every true lover of the chase as they pause discomfited1 look dismally at the yawning chasm1 and jog crestfallen away to the road4 ,there are many ladies1 and estimable ladies1 too1 who take out their horses every hunting-day1 and by keeping upon the roadways see all that they can of the hounds4 ,sometimes they are fortunate1 sometimes not2 it depends upon the line of country taken4 ,their position is1 in my opinion1 a most miserable one2 yet they must derive enjoyment from it1 else why do they come8 ,they surely cannot imagine that they are participating in the hunt2 yet it affords them amusement to keep pottering about1 and enables them to make their little harmless boast to credulous friends of their hunting days1 and the runs they have seen throughout the season4 ,indeed1 so far does this passion for boasting carry the fair sex1 that ,i myself know two young ladies who never saw a hound in their lives1 except from the inside of a shabby waggonette1 yet who brag in so audacious a manner that they have been heard to declare to gentlemen at evening dances1 ,really we cawn't dawnce2 we are so tired6 ,out all day with the ,wards--and had such a clipping run6 ,this sort of thing only makes us smile when we hear it amongst ladies1 but when men resort to it we become inspired with sufficient contempt to feel a longing desire to offer them severer chastisement than our derision4 ,i once asked a little mannikin1 who had given himself the name and airs of a great rider1 if he would be kind enough to pilot me over an intricate piece of country with which ,i was unacquainted4 ,the creature pulled his little moustaches1 and sniffed1 and hemmed and hawed1 and finally said1 ,aw1 ,i'm sure ,i should be delighted1 but you see ,i ride so deuced hard1 ,i should not expect a lady to be able to keep up with me4 ,i said nothing1 but acted as my own pilot1 and took opportunity to watch my hard-riding friend during the course of the run4 ,he positively never jumped a fence1 but worked rampantly at locks of gates1 and bribed country-folks to let him pass through4 ,the last ,i saw of him he was whipping his horse over a narrow ditch1 preparatory to scrambling it himself on foot4 ,and this man was only one of many1 for the really accomplished rider never boasts4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,hunting4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,hunting-,,gear4--,,necessary ,,regard ,,for ,,safe ,,shoeing4--,,drive ,,to ,,the ,,meet4--,,scene ,,on ,,arriving4--,a ,,word ,,with ,,the ,,huntsman4--,a ,,good ,,pilot4--,,the ,,covert ,,side4--,,disappointment4--,a ,,long ,,trot4 ,now that you are thoroughly at home on your saddle--in the park1 on the road1 and over the country--you are doubtless longing to display your prowess in the hunting-field1 and thither we shall have much pleasure in accompanying you4 ,your outfit will be the first thing to consider2 and do not be alarmed when ,i tell you that it will require a little more generosity on the part of papa than you have hitherto called upon him to exercise4 ,to commence with your feet--which ,i know is contrary to custom--you will need two pairs of patent ,wellington boots4 ,these are three guineas per pair1 but are a beautiful article1 and will last a long time with care4 ,woollen stockings of light texture1 with a pair of silk ones drawn over1 are the most comfortable for winter wear4 ,a small steel spur to affix to your left heel will be the next item required4 ,the nicest kind are those with a strap attached1 which crosses the instep1 and buckles securely at the side4 ,of course1 all ladies' spurs are spring ones1 displaying no rowels which could tear the habit1 but simply one steel projection with spring probe within1 which1 when pressed to the horse's side1 acts most efficiently as an instigator4 ,latchford's patent is the best4 ,two pairs of chamois riding-trousers1 cloth from the hip down1 and buttoning quite close at the ankle to allow of the boot going over1 will be the next necessary2 and you must also provide yourself with two riding corsets of superior shape and make4 ,three habits of strong dark cloth1 one of them thoroughly waterproof1 will be required--the skirts to be made so short as barely to cover the foot1 and so spare as to fit like glove1 without fold or wrinkle4 ,if a hunting-habit be properly cut it will require no shotting1 which will be an advantage to your horse in diminishing the weight which he would otherwise have to carry4 ,an elastic band nicely placed upon the inside in position to catch around the toe of the right foot will be sufficient to answer all purposes4 ,you cannot do better1 to procure an article such as ,i describe1 than entrust your order to ,wolmershausen 7whom ,i believe ,i have already named in a former chapter71 corner of ,curzon ,street1 ,mayfair1 where you will not fail to find your instructions intelligently carried out4 ,this firm has a speciality for skirt-cutting1--is1 indeed1 unapproachable in this particular branch1 of what is in reality an ,,art2 and even in these days of eager competition the old-established house suffers from no rivalry1 and holds its own in the widely-contested field4 ,a very neatly-made waterproof jacket will be an addition to your wardrobe1 as also a cape with an elastic band from the back to fasten around the waist1 and hold the front ends securely down4 ,this latter is an almost indispensable article4 ,it is so light that it can be carried with ease in your saddle-strap1 and in case of an unexpected shower can be adjusted in a single instant and without assistance1 which is not the case with a jacket4 ,it should be made with a collar1 which can be arranged to stand up close around the neck1 and thus prevent the possibility of damp or wet causing you cold or inconvenience4 ,i approve of the jacket for decidedly wet days1 when it should be donned on going out1 but for a showery day the cape is preferable1 as it can be much more easily taken off and again put on4 ,two silk hats1 with the addition of a melon-shape if you desire it--a long-lashed hunting-whip1 and a plentiful supply of collars1 cuffs1 gloves1 veils1 and handkerchiefs1 will complete your outfit4 ,i1 hunting four days a week1 find the above quite sufficient1 and if you care your things 7having got them in the first instance of the best quality7 it is surprising how long they may be made to serve4 ,i have told you how to take care of them1 but believe me1 if you leave the task to servants the end will prove disappointing4 ,you will never be one-half so well turned out1 and your outlay will be continual4 ,it is an excellent precaution for a hunting-day1 to look the previous morning at your horse's shoes2 and do this yourself1 for it not unfrequently happens that a careless groom will suffer him to go out with a loose shoe which gradually becomes looser1 and finally drops off1 perhaps in the middle of an exciting run1 and obliges you to leave your place with the hounds and seek the nearest forge4 ,all this sort of thing could1 in nine cases out of ten1 be obviated by a little care and forethought1 but the majority of riders are too grand1 or too careless1 or too absurdly squeamish about the propriety of entering a stable1 and not unfrequently too ignorant of things they ought to know1 to see to such matters themselves1 and so they are passed over and neglected4 ,a groom is too often utterly careless4 ,he is bound to send your horse from the yard looking shiny1 and sleek1 and clean4 ,any deviation from this would at once attract your attention1 and arouse your displeasure4 ,the groom knows this1 and acts accordingly2 but he also knows what you do not--that one of the shoes is three-parts loose2 it will probably hold very well until you begin to go1 and then it will drop off and leave you in a fix1 perhaps miles away from a village where the damage could be repaired4 ,the groom knew all about it1 very likely1 the day before1 but he saw that you were not troubling yourself1 and why should he8 ,you never made any inquiry about such matters1 nor seemed to interest yourself in them1 and why should he be troubled concerning them8 ,a loose shoe is nothing to him3 it does not cause him any inconvenience1 not it2 then why worry himself8 ,he does not want to bring the horse down to the forge through mud and rain1 and stand there awaiting the smith's convenience2 not a bit of it4 ,he is much more comfortable lolling against the stable-door and smoking a pipe with ,tom1 ,dick1 or ,harry4 ,it frequently occurs in the hunting-field that a horse loses a shoe in going through heavy ground1 or in jumping a fence where he brings his hind feet too close upon the front ones1 and1 catching the toe of the hind shoe in the heel of the front1 drags the latter forcibly off1 and leaves it either on the ground behind him or carries it for a field or two hanging by one or two nails to his hoof1 before it finally drops off4 ,the moment you are made aware that your horse has cast a shoe1 which will generally be by somebody informing you of the fact1 ascertain at once which of the animal's feet has been left unprotected4 ,if the lost shoe happens to be a hinder one1 the matter is less serious1 but if a front one should be cast1 do not lose any time in inquiring your road to the nearest smithy1 and1 whilst wending your way thither1 be careful to keep as much as possible upon the grass by the roadside1 that the shoeless foot may not become worn1 nor suffer from concussion by coming in contact with the hard road4 ,it is a good plan to send your horse early to the meet3 quite in the morning2 or1 should the distance be a long one1 despatch him the previous evening in charge of a careful servant1 and stable him for the night as near as possible to the point at which you may require him upon the following day4 ,if you are fortunate enough to have a friend's house to send him to1 so much the better a great deal2 but under any circumstances it is pleasanter both for you and your animal that he should be fresh and lively from his stable1 and not that you should get upon him when he is half-jaded and covered with mud1 after a long and tiresome road journey4 ,to drive to the meet or go by train yourself is the most agreeable way4 ,some ladies ride hacks to covert1 and then have their hunters to replace them1 but this is tiresome1 and not to be advocated for various reasons4 ,if the morning is fine the drive will be pleasant1 and you can then send your conveyance to whatever point you deem it most likely the hunt will leave off4 ,you must1 of course1 exercise your judgment in the endeavour to decide this1 but you may assist it considerably by asking the ,master or the huntsman to be kind enough to give you a hint as to the direction in which they will most probably draw4 ,we will1 then1 surmise that you drive to the meet4 ,it is an excellent plan1 whether you drive or go by train1 to take with you a small bag containing a change of clothing2 leave this in charge of your servant1 with directions where he is to meet you in the evening1 and then1 should you come to grief in a dyke or river you can console yourself with the knowledge that dry garments are awaiting you1 and that you will not have to encounter the risk of cold and rheumatism by sitting in drenched habiliments in a train or vehicle4 ,you will also1 if wise1 take with you a foot-pick and a few yards of strong twine4 ,even if you should not require them yourself you may be able to oblige others1 which is always a pleasure to a right-minded and unselfish huntress4 ,take1 likewise1 a few shillings in your pocket to reward1 if necessary1 the wreckers1 whose tasks are at all times difficult and laborious1 and too often thankless4 ,arrived at the meet1 your horse and servant are waiting for you in good time and order2 but it is a little early yet1 and so you look about you4 ,what a pretty sight it is6 ,how full of healthful interest and charming variety6 ,the day is bright and breezy--a little bit cloudy1 perhaps1 but no sign of rain4 ,a glorious hunting morning altogether4 ,numbers of vehicles are drawn up1 filled with happy-looking occupants1 mostly ladies and children4 ,there are a good many dog-carts1 polo-carts1 and a few tandems1 from which gentlemen in ulsters and long white saving-aprons are preparing to alight4 ,it is nice to see their steeds1 so beautifully groomed and turned out1 led up to the trap-wheels for them to mount1 without the risk of soiling their boots4 ,very particular are these gentlemen4 ,the day is muddy1 and they know they must be splashed and spattered as they ride to the covert-side1 but they will not leave the meet with a speck upon horse or rider4 ,there is a military-looking man--long1 tawny moustache1 and most perfect get-up--divesting himself of his apron1 and frowning because his snow-white breeches are disfigured by just one speck of dirt2 probably it would be unobservable to anybody but himself1 yet he is not the less annoyed4 ,a dapper little gentleman1 in drab shorts and gaiters1 is covertly combing his horse's mane2 and a hoary old fox-hunter1 who has just mounted1 has drawn over close to the hedge1 and extends first one foot and then the other for his servant to remove the blemishes which mounting has put upon his boots4 ,this extreme fastidiousness is carried by some to an absurd excess4 ,i remember upon one occasion seeing a gentleman actually re-enter his dog-cart and drive sulkily away from the meet because he considered himself too much splashed to join the cavalcade which was moving away to the covert1 although he was fully aware that a trot of a few hundred yards upon the muddy road in company with numerous other horses would1 under any circumstances1 have speedily reduced him to the condition which he was then lamenting4 ,a few ladies come upon the scene1 and many more gentlemen2 and then comes the huntsman in proud charge of the beauties4 ,the whips and second horsemen come also1 and the ,master drives up about the same time1 and loses not a moment in mounting his hunter4 ,the pack looks superb1 and many are the glances and words of commendation which it receives4 ,always have a smile and pleasant word for the huntsman and whips4 ,they deserve it1 and they value it4 ,i always make it a point to have a little conversation with them before we leave the meet--in fact1 ,i know many of the hounds in the various packs by name1 and ,i love to notice them4 ,nothing pleases the huntsman more than to commend his charge3 it makes him your friend at once4 ,many a time when ,i have been holding good place in a run1 we have come across some dangerous fence which it would be death to ride in a crowd1 and the huntsman's shout of ,let the lady first6 has secured me a safe jump1 and a maintenance of my foremost position4 ,all being now ready1 you mount your horse4 ,it would be well if some gentleman friend or relative would look first to his girths1 c42 but1 should such not be available1 do not be above doing it yourself4 ,servants1 even the best1 are1 as aforesaid1 often careless1 and a horse may be sent out with girths too loose1 throat-lash too tight1 runners out1 or any of the thousand and one little deficiencies which an interested and careful eye will at once detect4 ,of course you have not come to hunt without having secured a good pilot4 ,you have1 ,i hope1 selected somebody who rides well and straight--boldly1 and yet with judgment--for1 believe me1 a display of silly recklessness does not constitute good riding1 however it may be thought to do so by ignorant or silly persons4 ,your pilot will ride a few yards in advance of you1 and it will be your duty to keep him well in view1 and not to get separated from him4 ,this latter you may at times find difficult1 as others may ride in between1 but you must learn smartness1 and be prepared for all emergencies4 ,moreover1 if your pilot be a good one1 he will see that you keep close to him1 and1 by glancing over his shoulder after clearing each obstacle1 will satisfy himself that you also are safely over1 and that no mischance has befallen you4 ,any man who will not take this trouble is unfit to pilot a lady1 for whilst he is careering onward in all the glories of perfect safety1 she may be down in some ugly dyke1 perhaps ridden on1 or otherwise hurt2 and1 therefore1 it is his bounden duty to see that no evil befals her4 ,i cannot say that ,i consider the position of a trusty pilot at all an enviable one1 and few men care to occupy it in relation to a beginner or timorous rider1 although they are ever anxious to place their services at the disposal of a lady who is known to go straight4 ,in selecting a pilot1 do so with judgment4 ,choose one who knows the country1 and who will not be too selfish nor too grand to take care of you2 for1 remember1 you are only a beginner1 and will need to be taken care of4 ,if1 then1 you have secured the right sort of man1 and your own heart is in the right place1 you may prepare to enjoy yourself1 for a real good day's hunting is the keenest enjoyment in which man or woman can hope to participate in this life4 ,the trot to the covert-side is usually very pleasant4 ,you and your horse are quite fresh4 ,you meet and chat with your friends4 ,the two1 three1 or four miles1 as the case may be1 seem to glide away very fast4 ,then comes the anxious moment when the beauties are thrown in1 and all wait in eager suspense for the whimper which shall proclaim ,reynard at home4 ,but not a hound gives tongue this morning4 ,you can see them--heads down1 sterns up1 beating here and there through the gorse--but1 alas6 in silence2 and1 after a while1 someone says1 ,no fox here6 and presently your ear catches the sound of the huntsman's horn1 and the hounds come trooping out1 almost as disappointed as the field4 ,then the master gives the order for the next or nearest covert1 and there is a rush1 and a move1 and a long cavalcade forms upon the road1 headed1 of course1 by the hounds4 ,get well in front1 if you can1 so as to be quite up when they reach their next try1 for sometimes they find as soon as ever they are thrown in1 and are far away over the country before the stragglers come up1 and great1 then1 are the lamentations1 for hunting a stern-chase is1 to say the least of it1 not cheerful4 ,you will have another advantage1 also1 in being well forward1 for your horse will get the benefit of a temporary rest1 whilst those who1 by lagging1 have lost time at the start1 are obliged to follow as best they can upon the track1 bucketing their horses1 and thus depriving them of the chance of catching their wind--which is1 in a lengthened run1 of very material consequence4 ,one especial difference you observe between road-riding and hunting3 you are obliged to trot at a fast swinging pace such long tiresome distances from covert to covert1 without pause or rest1 and you feel already half tired out4 ,hitherto1 when riding on the road1 or in the park1 if you felt fatigued you have only had to pull up and walk2 but on hunting days there is no walking4 ,the time is too precious1 these short1 dark1 wintry days1 to allow of such sweet restings4 ,the evening closes in so rapidly that we cannot afford to lose a moment of our time1 and so we go along at a sweeping pace4 ,nobody who is unable to trot long distances without rest has any business hunting4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,hounds ,,in ,,covert4--,,the ,,first ,,fence4--,,follow ,,your ,,pilot4--,a ,,river-,,bath4 --,a ,,wise ,,precaution4--,a ,,label ,,advisable4--,,wall ,,and ,,water ,,jumping4 --,,advice ,,to ,,fallen ,,riders4--,,hogging4--,,more ,,tail4 ,you have now arrived at the next covert1 and have seen the hounds thrown in4 ,in an instant there is a whimper1 taken up presently by one and another1 until the air rings with the joyous music of the entire pack1 as they rattle their game about1 endeavouring to force him to face the open4 ,the whips are standing warily on the watch1 the huntsman's cheery voice is heard encouraging the hounds1 the ,master is galloping from point to point1 warning off idlers whose uninvited presence would be sure to send the varmint back into his lair4 ,your pilot1 knowing that a run from here is a certainty1 selects his vantage ground4 ,being a shrewd man1 he knows that no fox will face a keen nor'-easter1 nor will he be likely to brave the crowd of country bumpkins1 who1 despite the ,master's entreaties1 are clustering about yonder hedge4 ,in short1 there is only one point from which he can well break1 and so your pilot prepares accordingly4 ,another anxious moment ere the ,gone away6 ,tally-ho6 rings out upon the keen air2 and then follows that glorious burst which is worth giving up a whole year of one's life to see4 ,hounds running breast high1 fairly flying1 in fact2 huntsmen1 whips1 horsemen1 all in magnificent flight1 each riding hard for the foremost place1 amid such a chorus of delicious music as is never heard from any save canine throats2 and then1 when the first big fence is reached1 such hurry and scurry6 such tumbling and picking up again6 such scrambling of dogs and shouting of men6 such cold baths for horses and riders6 and oh1 such glory amongst the wreckers1 as they stand tantalizingly at the edge of the chasm in which so many are hopelessly struggling1 whilst their audacious cries of ,what'll you give me1 sir8 ,pull you out for a sovereign1 captain6 are heard and laughed at by the fortunate ones who are safe upon the other side4 ,your pilot has been a wise man4 ,he selected his starting-point at the sound of the very first opening out1 and when the general scrimmage took place he had his line chosen1 and so has led you wide of the ruck1 yet in the wake of the hounds4 ,and here suffer me to advise you1 if you should ever chance to be left without a leader1 do not fall into the mistake of following the others1 for my experience of hunting is that nine-tenths of those out do not know where they are going1 nor where fox or hounds have gone before them4 ,cut out a line for yourself1 and follow the pack4 ,a pilot is1 of course1 a great acquisition1 if he be a good one1 but throughout some of my best runs ,i have performed the office for myself1 and have succeeded in being in at the death4 ,but then ,i am not a beginner1 and ,i am surmising that you are4 ,keep about six yards behind your leader2 follow him unswervingly1 and jump after him1 but not on him4 ,always wait till he is well out of the way before you take the fence in his wake4 ,your horse will jump more readily having the example of his before him1 but ,i cannot too well impress upon you the necessity of allowing him to get well over before you attempt to follow4 ,one of the ugliest falls ,i ever got in my life was through riding too close upon my leader4 ,the run was a very hot one1 and only four of us were going at the time4 ,none1 in fact1 but those who had first-rate horses had been able to live through it4 ,we came to a wide branch of a river1 swollen by recent rains4 ,my pilot1 going a rare pace1 jumped it safely2 ,i came too fast upon him4 ,my horse's nose struck his animal's quarters1 which1 of course1 threw my gallant little mount off his balance1 and prevented his landing4 ,he staggered and fell back1 and we both got a drowning6 ,i was dragged up with a boat-hook1 the horse swam on until he found a place to scramble up the bank1 and then galloped off over the country4 ,i recollect standing dismally by that river1 my pilot and two wreckers scraping the mud from me1 and wringing my drenched garments1 whilst two or three more were scouring the adjacent lands in search of my truant steed4 ,when1 at length1 he was caught1 ,i had eleven miles to ride to the place at which ,i had left my trap1 and was obliged on arriving to change every atom of my clothing1 and wash off the superabundant mud in a horse-bucket1 kindly lent for the occasion4 ,the fall involved the loss of the run1 the loss of a habit1 the loss of many odd shillings to wreckers1 the loss of my temper1 a wound from the boat-hook1 and a heavy cold1 the result of immersion on a perishing winter day4 ,all these disasters were the punishments consequent upon my impetuosity in coming too close upon my leader2 therefore1 having thus myself suffered1 ,i warn you1 from woful experience1 never to tread upon the horse jumping in advance of you4 ,allowing1 even1 that you do not cannon against him1 there is another casualty which may not improbably occur4 ,supposing that he falls and throws his rider1 your horse may in alighting just chance to plant a foot upon the empty saddle of the prostrate animal1 the slippery nature of which throws him off his balance1 and you and he roll upon the earth together--perhaps receiving a kick from your pilot's struggling mount4 ,from this species of accident many evils have from time to time arisen1 and therefore ,i dutifully endeavour to put you well upon your guard4 ,i would also again remind you that if you really mean to ride an intricate country1 you should never under any circumstances neglect to bring a change of clothing1 for you may at any moment be dyked1 and to remain in wet garments is highly dangerous1--not so long as you are exercising1 but during the journey to your home4 ,it is not in the saddle1 but in vehicles and railway carriages that colds are contracted and the seeds of disease are sown4 ,it may not be out of place here to offer you a piece of wholesome advice4 ,should you at any time have the ill-fortune to be riding a kicking horse in the midst of a crowd1 always put back your hand when the cavalcade pauses1 to warn those behind not to come too close to the heels of your unquiet steed4 ,by so doing you may save an accident1 and may1 moreover1 guard yourself from more than one anathema4 ,i once saw the horse of a fiery old ,general kicked by the mount of a young nobleman1 who thought it not worth his while to offer an apology4 ,see here1 young man1 said the irate officer1 riding up to the offender's side1 whenever you come out to hunt on brutes like that you should paste a danger-card upon your back1 and not run the risk of breaking valuable bones4 ,i have said my say1 he added1 and now you may go to the devil6 ,a few hints next as to jumping4 ,if1 in the course of a run1 you meet with stone walls1 do not ride too fast at them4 ,always steady your horse at such obstacles1 and follow my oft-repeated advice of leaving him abundant head-room4 ,if you have to cross a river or very wide ditch1 come fast at it1 in order that the impetus may swing you safely over2 few horses can cross a wide jump without having what is called a run at it4 ,never expect your animal to take such obstacles at a stand1 or under the disadvantages consequent upon coming at them at a slow pace4 ,should the leap be a river or wide water-jump1 suffer your horse to stretch forward his head and neck when coming up to it4 ,if you fail to do so1 you will most probably go in1 for an animal who accomplishes his work requires his liberty as an absolute necessity1 and1 if denied it1 will teach you1 at the cost of a good wetting1 to treat him next time with greater consideration4 ,you will frequently see men ride pretty boldly up to some yawning chasm or ugly bullfinch--stop and look at it1 hesitate an instant1 and then1 by cruel spurring1 urge an exhausted animal to take it at a stand4 ,this is truly bad horsemanship1 and leads to many direful results4 ,a good rider will1 on perceiving that the obstacle is a formidable one1 turn his horse round1 take him some little distance from it1 and then1 again turning1 come fast at it--quick gallop1 hands down1 horse's head held straight and well in hand1 but without any pulling or nervous reining in4 ,such a one will be pretty sure to get safely over4 ,should your horse1 in jumping a fence1 land badly1 and slip his hind legs into a gripe or ditch1 do not wait more than an instant to see if he can recover himself2 you will know in that time whether he will be likely to do so4 ,the best advice ,i can give you is to kick your foot free of the stirrup and jump off before he goes back4 ,you will thus keep your own skin dry2 and1 if you have been fortunate enough to retain a light hold of the rein1 you can rescue your horse without much difficulty2 for an animal1 when immersed1 makes such intelligent efforts to release himself1 that a very trifling assistance upon your part will enable him to struggle safely to your side1 when you can remount him and try your chances of again picking up the hounds4 ,be cautious1 however1 in pulling him up1 that you do so over smooth ground4 ,i had a valuable young horse badly staked last season through being dragged up over a clump of brushwood after a fall into the ,lara river4 ,should your steed peck on landing over a fence you will be pretty certain to come over his head1 for this is an ugly accident1 and one very likely to occur over recently-scoured drains4 ,you may1 however1 save both yourself and him1 if you are smart in using your hands in assisting him to recover his lost equilibrium4 ,in the event of your horse jumping short with you1 either from having taken off too soon or from any other cause1 and falling upon you into a gripe1 you may 7when you gain a little experience7 be able to stick to him without leaving the saddle4 ,the first effort a fallen animal makes is to try to get up2 therefore1 if you are not quite thrown1 hold on to his mane1 and as he struggles to right himself make your effort to regain your seat4 ,be guided1 however1 in doing this by observing with a quick glance whether there are thorns or brambles overgrowing the place1 for if there are1 and your horse on recovering himself strides onward in the ditch1 seeking a place at which he may get out1 your face will undoubtedly suffer4 ,this sort of thing once occurred to me in the course of a day's hunting4 ,i held on to my animal when he fell1 and regained my seat without very much difficulty1 but before ,i could recover my hold of the bridle he had rushed forward1 and my face was terribly punished by the overhanging brambles4 ,be very careful1 in this matter of holding on to a fallen animal1 not to confound the mane with the rein4 ,by clinging to the former you assist yourself without in the smallest degree impeding the movements of your horse2 by clinging to the latter you seriously interfere with his efforts at recovery1 and most probably pull him back upon you4 ,and this brings me to the subject of hogging horses' manes4 ,never1 under any circumstances1 allow an animal of yours to be thus maltreated4 ,not only is it a vile disfigurement1 depriving the horse of ,nature's loveliest ornament1 but it also deprives the rider of a very chief means of support in case of accident4 ,many a bad fall have ,i been saved by clutching firmly at the mane1 which an ignorant groom had oft implored me to sacrifice2 and many a good man and true have ,i seen recover himself by a like action1 when a hog-maned animal would undoubtedly have brought him to grief4 ,grooms are especially fond of this system of hogging1 and many a beauteous adjunct of ,nature's forming has been ruthlessly sacrificed to their ceaseless importunities to be permitted to smarten the baste4 ,tails1 too1 are remorselessly clocked by these gentlemen of the stable2 not that they really think it an improvement1 any more than they veritably admire the hogging process1 but it saves them trouble1 it lightens their labours1 they have less combing and grooming to attend to4 ,tails were sent by ,nature1 not merely as an ornament1 but to enable the animal to whisk away the flies1 which in hot weather render its life a burthen4 ,man1 the ruthless master1 by a cruel process of cutting and searing1 deprives his helpless slave of one of its most valued and most necessary possessions4 ,i do not myself advocate long switch tails1 which are rarely an ornament1 being usually covered with mud2 but ,i maintain that docking is cruel and unnecessary1 keeping the hairs closely and evenly cut being quite sufficient for purposes of cleanliness1 without in any way interfering with the flesh2 therefore1 do not reject my oft-repeated plea for a little more tail4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,holding ,,on ,,to ,a ,,prostrate ,,horse4--,,is ,,it ,,wise ,,or ,,otherwise8--,,an ,,indiscreet ,,jump4--,a ,,difficult ,,finish4--,,the ,,dangers ,,of ,,marshy ,,grounds4--,,encourage ,,humanity4--,a ,,reclaimed ,,cabby6 ,to return to the subject of jumping4 ,in the event of an ordinary fall in landing over a fence1 it is a vexed question whether or not it is advisable to hold on by the rein whilst your horse is on the ground4 ,i do not now mean when he is sunk in a ditch1 but when he is prostrate upon even grass-land or upon smooth earth4 ,many first-rate riders affirm that it is a highly dangerous practice1 therefore ,i am afraid to advocate it1 and must speak with reserve--as ,i did respecting the management of a rearing animal--but for my own part ,i always do it4 ,my experience is1 that when a horse struggles to his feet his movement is almost invariably retrograde4 ,he tries to get away1 consequently his heels are turned from me2 and so long as ,i keep my hold of the bridle his head will be nearest me and his feet furthest4 ,he will not think of turning to kick me1 unless he be a vilely vicious brute1 not worth his keep2 and so ,i can hold him with safety until ,i am up myself and ready to remount him4 ,when my horse falls with me on the flat1 ,i roll clear of him without letting go the rein1 and as the only danger of a kick is whilst he is getting up1 ,i shield my head with one arm and slip the rein to its fullest length with the other1 thus allowing the animal so much head-room that he is enabled to make that retrograde movement1 or dragging away1 which is natural to him1 and which saves me from the possible contact of his heels4 ,this is1 in my opinion 7which ,i cannot1 of course1 pretend to think infallible71 the best course to pursue4 ,it is the one which ,i always adopt1 and ,i have never yet1 except in one trifling instance1 received a kick from a fallen horse4 ,i remember one day1 a couple of seasons ago1 ,i was riding hard against a very beautiful ,imperial lady1 who dearly loves a little bit of rivalry4 ,neck and neck we had jumped most of the fences for forty minutes or so1 and both our steeds were pretty well beaten1 for the running had been continuous1 without a check4 ,we came to an awful obstacle--a high thick-set hedge1 so impenetrable that there was no chance of knowing what might be on the other side4 ,there was but one little apology for a gap1 and at this the ,empress's pilot rode--immediately putting up his hand as a warning to us not to follow1 and pointing lower down4 ,i knew that when ,bay ,middleton thought there was danger1 it did1 indeed1 exist2 but ,i was too much excited to stop4 ,we had the hunt all to ourselves1 the hounds running right in front of us1 and not a soul with them4 ,i came at the fence with whip1 spur1 and a shout6 ,my horse--than which a better never was saddled--rose to the leap1 and landing upon his head after a terrific drop1 rolled completely over4 ,i was not much hurt1 and whilst he was on his knees getting up1 ,i scrambled back to the saddle1 and went on2 but1 oh6 under what dire disadvantages6 ,my rein had caught upon a stake in the fence and was broken clean off1 and ,i fancy it was this chuck to my animal's mouth which had thrown him out of his stride and caused him to blunder1 for it was the first and last mistake he ever made with me1 nor could ,i1 in the hurry of regaining my seat unassisted1 get my foot into the stirrup2 so ,i finished the run as if by a miracle1 and astonished myself even more than anybody else by bringing home the fox's brush as a trophy that ,i was in at the death4 ,always bear in mind when hunting that you are bound to save your horse as much as possible4 ,jump no unnecessary fences2 look out for a friendly gate whenever you can find one at hand2 and in going up hill or over ploughed land1 ease your animal and take your time4 ,by acting thus judiciously you will be able to keep going when others are standing still4 ,always avoid bogs and heavy bottoms2 they are most treacherous1 and swamp many an unwary hunter in their dangerous depths4 ,if you should ever have the bad fortune to be caught in one1 dismount at once1 and lead your horse4 ,it is not a pleasant thing to have to do1 but if you remain upon him1 your weight1 added to his own1 will probably sink him up to his saddle-girths1 and there he will stick4 ,i would desire particularly to impress upon you that if your horse carries you safely and brilliantly through one good run1 you ought to be contented with that1 and not attempt to ride him a second4 ,it is through the unwise and cruel habit of riding beaten animals that half the serious accidents occur4 ,also remember that if you are waiting at a covert-side where there seems likely to be a delay1 after your steed has had a gallop or a long trot1 you should get off his back and shift your saddle an inch one way or the other1 generally backwards1 as servants are usually apt in the first instance to place the saddle too close upon the withers4 ,by adopting this plan you will1 when you again get upon him1 find him a new animal4 ,if you or ,i were carrying a heavy burthen upon our shoulders for a certain number of hours in precisely the same position1 would it not make a new being of us to have it eased and shifted8 ,and exactly so it is with the horse4 ,a selfish man will sit all day upon his beast1 rather than take the trouble of getting off his back2 but against himself does it tell1 for his animal is fagged and jaded when that of a merciful man is able to keep its place in the run4 ,there is nothing which should more fully engross the thoughts of the humane hunter than kindly consideration towards the noble and beautiful creature which ,god has sent to be the help of man4 ,your horse should be your companion1 your friend1 your loved and valued associate1 but never your wronged and over-tasked slave4 ,humanity cries out with ready uproar against the long list of grievances which animals have to endure1 yet how few of us exert ourselves to lighten the burthen by so much as one of our fingers6 ,there is not one of us who may not1 if he choose1 be daily and hourly striving to curtail the load of misery which the equine race is called upon to bear4 ,we may not be fortunate enough to possess horses ourselves upon which to exercise our humanity1 but can we not do something--yea1 much--for others8 ,surely we can1 if we only possess the courage and the will4 ,even a word judiciously spoken will often effect more than we could have hoped or supposed4 ,two years ago ,i saw a cabman in ,dublin cruelly ill-treating his horse4 ,the poor animal was resting its worn and tired body upon the stand1 ready for the wrench which its jaw would receive as soon as the next prospect of a fare should excite the cupidity of its owner4 ,one would have thought that the sight of so much patient misery would have moved the stoniest heart to suffer the hapless creature to enjoy its few moments of needed repose4 ,but no2 the driver wanted some amusement1 he was weary of standing by himself1 without some sort of employment to divert his ignoble mind1 and so he found such out4 ,how8 ,by beating upon the front legs and otherwise cruelly worrying with the whip the poor ill-used slave which he should have felt bound to protect4 ,i saw it first from a distance--more fully as ,i came near--and with a heart bursting with sorrow and indignation1 ,i crossed over and remonstrated with the man4 ,i said very little2 only what ,i have tried to inculcate in these pages--that humanity to quadrupeds is not only a duty which we owe to their ,creator1 but will in time repay ourselves4 ,i expected nothing but abuse1 and1 indeed1 the man's angry face and half-raised whip seemed to augur me no good2 but1 suddenly1 as something that ,i said came home to him1 his countenance softened1 and1 laying his hand quite gently upon the poor beaten side of the animal which he had been ill-treating1 he said3 ,well1 if there was more like you1 there 'ud be less like me6 that's the thruth1 at all events4 ,and then he said no more1 for he was satisfied that ,i knew ,i had not spoken in vain4 ,for two years that man has been my constant driver4 ,he is almost daily at my door3 he drives me to and from the trains when going to and returning from the hunts1 and dearly loves to hear something of the runs2 nor is there a more humane driver nor a better cared horse in any city of the empire4 ,i have related this true incident1 not from any egotism--,god is my witness--but merely to show you how good is a word in season4 ,you may speak many which may be1 or may seem to be1 of none effect1 but1 like the bread upon the waters1 you know not when it may return unto you blessed4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,selfishness ,,in ,,the ,,field4--,,fording ,a ,,river4--,,shirking ,a ,,fence4-- ,,over-,,riding ,,the ,,hounds4--,,treatment ,,of ,,tired ,,hunters4--,,bigwig ,,and ,,the ,,major4--,,naughty ,,bigwig4--,,hapless ,,major4 ,you must be particularly cautious in the hunting-field to avoid being cannoned against4 ,there is no other place in the whole world where there is so little ceremony2 and so very1 very little politeness4 ,it is verily a case of ,every man for himself1 and the devil take the hindmost6 ,there is scarcely one man in the entire field who will not in his heart of hearts resent your presence1 and so he will pay you no court4 ,the crowding at gaps1 and at certain negotiable places in different well-known fences is simply disgraceful2 and persons--,i cannot call them gentlemen--ride each other down like dogs4 ,at such places you will be fortunate if you can enlist a friend to ride behind you1 and thus prevent your being jumped upon in the event of a fall4 ,i must not omit to remind you that in crossing a ford your horse will be very apt to lose his footing4 ,you will know when he does so by his making a kind of plunge1 and an endeavour to swim1 which he only does when he feels himself out of his depth4 ,if at such a time you interfere with his mouth1 he will inevitably roll over4 ,your only chance is to throw him the reins1 and let him scramble or swim as he finds easiest4 ,if the latter1 lift your left leg 7with foot still in the stirrup7 completely over the third crutch1 that he may not strike your heel with his near hind foot1 or become in any way entangled with the stirrup or in your skirt4 ,at the same time grasp the up-pommel firmly with your hand1 that you may not be unseated when he makes his second struggle1 which he will do as soon as he recovers his footing at the bottom of the water4 ,a horse who shirks his fences is a terrible infliction to have to ride4 ,of course the first refusal condemns you to lose your place1 for it is the etiquette of the hunting-field that if your horse refuses you must at once draw aside and let the whole field go by before you again essay it4 ,but1 provoked though you may be1 do not allow yourself to be vanquished4 ,if you do not now gain the victory your horse will always be your conqueror4 ,bring him again to the leap1 keeping his head straight and your hands low and firm4 ,if he refuses a second time1 bring him round again and again1 always turning him from right to left--that is1 with the pressure upon you right rein--and not suffering him to have his own way4 ,remember that if you suffer him to conquer you or bring him to any other part of the fence than that which he is refusing1 you will thoroughly spoil him4 ,do not1 however1 treat him with harshness4 ,coax him and speak gently to him4 ,it may be nervousness1 not temper2 and if so1 you will soon get him over by kindly encouragement4 ,the horse is essentially a timid creature4 ,he is oftentimes subjected to cruelties for his obstinacy1 where a little kindness and a few reassuring words would be infinitely more effectual4 ,every glance of your eye1 every look upon your countenance is noted by your horse whilst he can see you1 and1 when you are upon his back1 your words fall upon highly sensitive ears4 ,a horse's soul is full of affection for his owner4 ,he yearns to please him4 ,he would yield his life to serve him4 ,alas6 how is such nobility requited8 ,man's cruelty converts a peerless and incomparable companion into a terrified and trembling slave4 ,young limbs are heavily weighted before they have had time to grow2 dark1 wretched1 solitary confinement too early takes the place of the open air and free pasturage to which the creature would fain a little longer cling2 young heads1 pining for freedom1 are tied or chained up in melancholy imprisonment4 ,the numerous little devices with which the captive strives to while away the tedium of its captivity are punished as vices by heartless and ignorant grooms4 ,nervousness is called bad temper1 and timidity regarded as a punishable offence4 ,all the horrors of the modern stable are brought to bear upon the priceless creature who is born to freedom1 and whose fettered limbs he is scarce permitted to stretch4 ,a rack of dry1 and oftentimes vitiated hay is placed above the head which was created to stoop to gather the juicy grasses of the earth4 ,a measure of hard dry corn1 or a bucket of water1 is periodically brought and thrust before the prisoner1 who eats and drinks for mere pastime1 often without appetite1 and whose frequent rejection of the offered dainties is regarded as sulkiness or vice4 ,the whole system of modern stable management is lamentably at fault4 ,i cannot hope to remedy it4 ,i cannot persuade obstinate humanity that the expenditure of a few shillings will turn in as many pounds3 that by the bestowal of proper care1 proper housing1 light1 and exercise1 and proper clothing1 food1 and drink1 the slave will repay by longer life and more active service the care and kindness which ,christianity should deem a pleasure and privilege1 instead of1 as now1 a compulsory and doled-out gift4 ,i cannot expect to remedy these wide and universal evils1 nor yet can you2 but we are bound--you and ,i--to guard against such things in our own management4 ,if your horse oppose you through nervousness1 you can conquer him by kindness2 if through obstinacy1 which is occasional but not frequent1 you must adopt a different plan4 ,use your spur and whip1 and show that you will not be mastered1 though you stay there till the stars come out4 ,you will be sure to conquer ere long1 unless your horse is one of those inveterate brutes which are1 fortunately1 rarely to be met with1 and when you succeed in getting him over the obstacle at which he has sulked1 put him at it again1 making him take it backwards and forwards1 and he will not be likely to trouble you by a repetition of his pranks4 ,you must be very cautious in the hunting-field not to leave yourself open to any suspicion of over-riding the hounds2 keep close to them1 but never so near as to be upon them4 ,over-riding hounds is a piece of unpardonable caddishness of which no gentleman1 and certainly no lady1 would be guilty2 yet it is done2 and then1 when the master's wrath is aroused1 the innocent suffer with the guilty1 for many who are not absolutely offenders1 ride too close in their zeal for the pleasures of the chase4 ,when your day's sport is over1 and you are riding back to the place at which you expect to meet your trap1 remember that the easiest way to bring your horse in is in a quiet jog-trot4 ,it is nonsense to walk him1 for he will only stiffen1 and will be the longer away from his stable and his needed rest4 ,if you chance to come across a piece of water1 ride him to it and let him have a few go downs1--six or eight1 but not more4 ,when you get off his back1 see that his girths are loosed at once1 and1 if very tired1 a little water thrown over his feet4 ,he should then be taken quietly home--if by road1 in the same easy trot--and just washed over and turned into a loose box1 where he can tumble and luxuriate without submitting to any of the worries of professional grooming4 ,fifteen minutes after my return from hunting1 my horse--sheeted and comfortable--is feeding quietly in his stall1 enjoying his food and rest2 instead of standing in some wet corner of a cold yard1 with his unhappy head tied up by an unsympathizing rope1 and a fussy groom worrying his tired body with a noisy display of most unnecessary zeal4 ,and this is as it ought to be4 ,horses are like human beings1--they like to rest when wearied1 and their chief desire--if we would only believe it--is to be left alone4 ,but we are incredulous1 and so we hang about them1 and fuss and worry the fagged and patient creatures who would fain appeal to us for a cessation of our attentions4 ,there are few things more truly delightful than a mutual understanding and affection between horse and rider1 and this can easily be arrived at by kindness and care4 ,i have a hunter--,bigwig1 son of ,the ,lawyer--who follows me all over the place1 knows my voice from any distance1 rubs his nose down my dress1 puts it into my pocket to look for apples1 and licks my hands and face like a dog2 yet ,i have done nothing to induce all this1 except treating him with uniform justice and kindness4 ,he has carried me most brilliantly through three successive seasons without one single display of sulk or bad temper4 ,he knows not the touch of a whip4 ,i carry one1 that the long lash1 passed through his bridle1 may assist him when necessary in getting over a trappy fence1 at which ,i may deem it prudent to dismount1 but the sight of it never inspires him with fear2 if ,i showed it to him1 he would probably lick it1 and then gaze inquiringly at me to see if ,i were pleased with the novel performance4 ,to me1 this noble and beautiful creature is a priceless companion2 yet1 strange to say1 nobody else 7not even the most accomplished rider7 can obtain any good of him4 ,it is not that he displays vice1 but he simply will not allow himself to be ridden4 ,i once happened to mention this fact at our private dinner-table1 in presence of a distinguished major1 who had been boasting largely of his prowess in the saddle1 and who at once offered to lay me ten to one that he would master the animal in question within five minutes4 ,i do not bet1 ,i said1 but ,i will venture to assert that you will not be able to ride him out of the yard within as many hours4 ,he took me up at once1 and1 as a good many sporting men were dining with us1 who evidently enjoyed the prospect of a little excitement1 ,i quietly called a servant1 and sent orders to the groom to saddle ,bigwig without delay4 ,it was a lovely evening in summer1 and we all adjourned to the yard to view the performance4 ,the moment my beautiful pet saw me he whinnied joyously and strove to approach me1 but ,i dared not go near him1 in case it should be thought that by any sort of ,freemasonry ,i induced him to carry out my words4 ,the sight was most amusing2 the gentlemen all standing about1 smoking and laughing2 the horse suspicious1 and not at ease1 quietly held by the groom1 whose face was in a grin of expectation1 for none knew better than he what was likely to ensue4 ,the major prepared to mount1 and ,bigwig stood with the utmost placidity2 although ,i must confess he was naughty enough to cast back an eye1 which augured no good to the gallant representative of ,her ,majesty's service4 ,he mounted without difficulty1 took up the reins1 and evidently prepared for a struggle2 but none such ensued4 ,bigwig tucked his tail very tight to his body1 walked quietly forward for a yard or two1 and then1 suddenly standing up as straight as a whip1 the defeated major slid over his tail upon the hard ground1 whilst the horse trotted back to his box4 ,i have related for you this anecdote1 not merely for your amusement1 but to teach you never to boast4 ,a braggart is ever the first to fall1 and nobody sympathizes with him4 ,if you become ever so successful in your management of horses1 do not exert yourself to proclaim it4 ,suffer others to find it out if they will2 but do not tell them of it1 lest some day you share the fate of the prostrate and discomfited major4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,feeding ,,horses4--,,forage-,,biscuits4--,,irish ,,peasantry4--,a ,,cunning ,,idiot4--,a ,,cabin ,,supper4--,,the ,,roguish ,,mule4--,a ,,day ,,at ,,courtown4-- ,,paddy',s ,,opinion ,,of ,,the ,,empress4 ,i said at the commencement of these pages that ,i should offer little or no discourse upon the general management of horses2 yet1 in one reserved instance1 ,i may be permitted to break through my rule4 ,if you want your hunters to thrive1 do not let them have a single grain of raw oats4 ,people have laughed at me when ,i said this1 and have scarcely waited for the turning of my back to call me a mad woman2 but a few of the scoffers have since come to thank me1 and if you adopt my plan you will think that this little volume would have been cheap at a ten-pound note4 ,there are1 of course1 times when raw oats must be given1 for your horse may not always be in your own stable4 ,at such times it is a good plan to mix chopped clover or grass through the feeding1 taking care that grain and clover be thoroughly mingled4 ,the judicious mixture of green meat will go far towards counteracting the binding effects which raw oats will be likely to have upon a horse not accustomed to it1 and will also induce him to masticate his food1 which an animal inured to softer feeding will otherwise be apt to neglect1 wasting the corn by dropping it from his mouth in a slobbering fashion1 making no use whatever of his grinders1 and swallowing a certain portion without chewing it at all4 ,i am1 for various tried reasons1 a thorough advocate for ,mayhew's and ,shingler's style of feeding upon cooked food1 mingled1 of course1 with good sweet hay1 or an admixture of the juicy grasses upon which the animal in its unfettered state would be prone to live4 ,in my stable-yard are a large boiler and an unlimited supply of good water4 ,the groom boils sufficient oats to do for two or three days1 and1 when cool1 mixes through it a small proportion of bruised ,indian corn4 ,on this the horses are fed as with ordinary oats three times daily1 and so enjoy the feeding that not one grain is left in the mangers1 which are placed low upon the ground4 ,the surest proof of the efficacy of this excellent and economical feeding is that my horses never sweat1 never blow1 never tire4 ,when other hunters are standing still1 mine have not turned a hair2 and1 as prize-winners and brilliant goers1 they cannot be excelled4 ,the principle ,i go on is this3--,if ,i eat a cupful of raw rice1 it certainly does me no good2 but if ,i boil it1 it makes three or four times the quantity of good1 wholesome1 digestible food1 every grain of which goes to the nourishment of my body4 ,and it is precisely so with the oats and the horse4 ,in addition to this feeding1 ,i give abundance of good1 sweet1 moist hay1 varied by green food in summer1 substituting carrots in the winter-time1 of which vegetable they are particularly fond4 ,the carrots are given whole1 either from my hand or put loosely in the manger4 ,i never suffer them to be cut up1 unless it be done very finely1 either by myself or under my supervision1 to induce a delicate feeder to taste his food through which the chopped carrots are rubbed4 ,grooms1 with their accustomed ignorance1 are almost always in favour of the cutting up1 but ,i regard it as a most dangerous practice4 ,if the carrot be left whole the horse will nibble at it1 and will bite off just such pieces as he knows he can chew and swallow1 but there is more than one instance upon record of horses choking themselves with pieces of cut carrot1 and very many who have nearly done so4 ,i can feed my horses upon this system for very little more than half the sum which my neighbours are expending1 with advantages which are certainly fourfold4 ,i consider it an excellent plan to vary horses' feeding1 as it tells quite as beneficially upon animals as upon ourselves2--and for this purpose there cannot1 in my opinion1 be anything better than the forage-biscuits1 manufactured by ,spratt ,co41 ,henry ,street1 ,london1 ten of which are equal to one good feed of oats1 and are so relished that not so much as a crumb is suffered to go to waste4 ,they combine all the most nutritious of grains1 with dates and linseed added in such proportions as experience has pointed out to the inventor to be the best4 ,they are then baked1 and thoroughly dried1 so that they are entirely deprived of moisture1 and will consequently keep good for any length of time4 ,the baking process being complete1 they are1 when eaten1 practically half-digested1--or1 as ,i may say1 they present the materials to the horse in the most digestible form in which it is possible to give them4 ,there are certain chemicals used in very minute quantities in the manufacture of these biscuits1 which are productive of highly beneficial effects upon animals thus fed1--improving their muscular development1 and imparting to their coats a peculiarly healthy and brilliant appearance4 ,one feed of the forage-biscuits three or four times weekly is the proper allowance1--and they should be given whole1 as the same objection applies to the breaking of them as ,i have set forth in my dissertation upon the cutting up of carrots4 ,i now desire to warn you that if you hunt in ,ireland you must be prepared for the laughable and most ingenious frauds which the poor people--alas6 how poor--will certainly endeavour to practise upon you4 ,i can1 and do most fully1 commiserate their poverty1 but with their attempts at imposition ,i have long since lost patience4 ,doubtless they think that everybody who hunts is of necessity a rich person1 and conceive the idea that by fleecing the wealthy they will aid in blotting out the poverty of the land4 ,nothing delights the old cottage-woman more than to kill an ancient hen or duck on a hunting-morning1 and then1 when the hunt comes sweeping past her door1 out rushes the beldame with the bird concealed beneath her apron1 and throwing it deftly--positively by a species of sleight of hand--beneath your horse's hoofs1 kicks up a mighty whining1 and declares that you have kilt her beauty-ful fowl6 ,i was so taken aback upon the first of these occasions that ,i actually stopped and paid the price demanded2 but1 finding that the same thing occurred the following week in a different locality1 ,i ascertained that it was a trick and declined to be farther hocussed4 ,it is likewise a common thing for a man to accost you1 demanding a shilling1 and declaring that it was he who pulled your ladyship's horse out of the ditch or quagmire on such and such a day4 ,you do not remember ever having seen his face before2 but if you are a hard-riding lady you will be so frequently assisted out of difficulties that you cannot undertake to say who nor how many may have helped you unrewarded1 and1 being unwilling that any should so suffer1 you bestow the coin1 most likely in many instances1 until you find that your generosity has become known and is consequently being traded upon4 ,i remember one day1 a couple of winters ago1 when returning from hunting1 ,i lost my way1 and being desirous of speedily re-finding it1 ,i accosted a ragged being whom ,i saw standing at a corner where four roads met1 and inquired of him the most direct route to the point which ,i was desirous of reaching4 ,the creature hitched his shoulders1 scratched his collarless neck1 pushed the hat from his sunburnt forehead1 and1 finally1 looking down and rubbing the fore-finger of his right hand upon the palm of his left1 thus delivered himself3 ,i axed him for a ha'penny1 and he wouldn't give it to me2 but he put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a pinny1 and gave it to me1 and ,i took it in--ho1 ho6 and he gave me a letter to take up to ,mrs4 ,johnston1 and when ,i took it to her1 she opened it and read it4 ,now1 didn't ,i give her the letter8 ,really1 said ,i1 ,i know nothing about ,mrs4 ,johnston nor her letter4 ,i want to know the nearest way to ,dunboyne station4 ,i axed him for a ha'penny1 began the man again4 ,and then ,i had the whole story of the pinny and ,mrs4 ,johnston repeated for me over and over1 without a smile or any variation1 until my vexation vanished1 and ,i fairly roared with laughter4 ,guessing at once how the land lay1 ,i produced a little coin with which ,i presented him1 and which he immediately pocketed1 and1 touching his ragged feather1 pointed down one of the roads1 and said quite sensibly1 ,that's the right road1 my lady4 ,and so ,i found it4 ,this man1 ,i was subsequently informed1 made quite a respectable maintenance by stationing himself at the cross-roads on daily duty1 and informing every passer-by that he axed for a ha'penny but was generously treated to a pinny1 together with the story of ,mrs4 ,johnston and her letter1 accompanied by all the shruggings1 and scratchings1 and sniffings1 which never failed to provoke the laughter of the hearer and to elicit the coveted coin4 ,the ,irish1 with all their little failings1 are a hospitable people1 and full of pungent wit4 ,i was one evening wending my way to ,sallins station1 after a long and wearisome day's hunting4 ,my tired horse was suffering from an over-reach1 and ,i was taking him as quietly as ,i could1 consistently with my anxiety to be in time to catch the train by which ,i desired to return to town4 ,so utterly jaded were we both--,i and my steed--that the way appeared very long indeed1 and ,i asked the first countryman whom ,i met how far it was to ,sallins4 ,three miles1 he told me1 and ,i jogged on again4 ,when we had traversed quite a long distance1 and ,i thought ,i must be very near my journey's end1 ,i ventured upon asking the same question of a farmer whom ,i met riding a big horse in an opposite direction to that in which ,i was myself going4 ,it was a matter of about two miles1 he told me1 or mayhap three1 but not more he thought1 and ,i was certainly not going wrong2 ,i was on the right road1 and no mistake4 ,i took out my watch4 ,no hope for me now4 ,i was undoubtedly late for the train which ,i had hoped to catch1 and must wait two long hours for the next4 ,a poor-looking little cottage was close at hand2 to it ,i trotted1 and looked in at the door4 ,the family were at supper1 all gathered about a narrow table1 in the middle of which lay a pile of unpeeled potatoes and a little salt4 ,the mule1 upon which much of their fortune depended1 was supping with them2 thrusting his poor attenuated nose over the shoulders of the children1 and occasionally snatching a potato1 always receiving a box for so doing1 to which1 however1 he paid no sort of heed4 ,i was at once invited to enter1 and gladly accepted the invitation1 for ,i was cold and tired1 pleased to ease my horse and get him a draught of meal and water4 ,i sat down in the chimney-corner1 thankful for the rest1 but determined to withstand all entreaties to share the family supper1 and my risible faculties were sorely put to the test1 when my host1 balancing a potato upon his fork and dipping it in the salt1 presented it to me1 saying1 ,arrah6 take it my lady1 just for the jig o' the thing6 ,of course ,i took it2 and never have ,i enjoyed the richest luxury of an a la ,russe dinner more than that simple potato in a poor man's cabin1 in company with the mule and the pigs4 ,when ,i stood up to go ,i carefully inquired the distance1 for it was dark1 and ,i had long since lost the remainder of my party4 ,the man offered to accompany me to the station1 and ,i believe he was actuated solely by civility1 and not by any hope of gain4 ,my horse was sadly done up2 he had stiffened on the over-reach1 and limped painfully4 ,we proceeded but slowly1 and1 sighing for the patient suffering of my dearly-loved steed1 ,i made the observation that the miles were very long indeed4 ,they are long1 my lady1 said the man1 who was walking before me with a lanthorn2 but1 shure and faith1 if they're long they're narra'6 ,and with this most intelligent observation he closed his mouth1 and left me to ponder upon it undisturbed until we arrived at the station4 ,one more anecdote1 and ,i have done with them4 ,on one of last season's hunting-days the hounds met at ,courtown1 and great excitement was abroad1 for the ,imperial lady was expected to join the chase4 ,she was1 however1 prevented through indisposition from attending1 but ,prince ,liechtenstein and a very distinguished company came over from ,summerhill4 ,as we were trotting to the covert the country-folks were all on the alert1 for not having heard of the disappointment respecting the ,empress they were anxiously expecting her1 and many were the surmises respecting her identity4 ,i was riding close to the front1 escorted by ,lord ,cloncurry1 and as we swept past one of the wayside cottages1 two men and a woman rushed out to stare at us and to give their opinions upon the ,impress4 ,which is she8 cried the female1 shading her eyes to have a good look1--,that must be her in front1 with his lordship4 ,oh6 isn't she lovely8 ,a quane1 every inch6 ,arrah6 shut up1 woman1 said one of the men1 testily interrupting her4 ,that's not her at all1 nor a taste like her6 ,the ,impress is a good-lookin' woman4 ,i need not say that this genuinely-uttered remark took the wind completely out of my sails1 and that ,i have never since dreamed of comparing my personal appearance with that of any woman whom an ,irishman would call good-lookin'4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,the ,,double-,,rise4--,,pointing ,,out ,,the ,,right ,,foot4--,,the ,,force ,,of ,,habit4 --,,various ,,kinds ,,of ,,fault-,,finding4--,,mr4 ,,sturgess' ,,pictures4--,,an ,,english ,,harvest-,,home4--,a ,,jealous ,,shrew4--,a ,,shy ,,blacksmith4--,,how ,,irishmen ,,get ,,partners ,,at ,a ,,dance4 ,i shall now touch very briefly upon one or two points which ,i have not before mentioned1 but which may1 nevertheless1 prove interesting to some lady riders4 ,firstly1 then1 ,i shall speak of the annoyance--sometimes a serious one--which ladies experience from what is known as the double rise in the trot4 ,i have been asked is it preventible4 ,before suggesting a remedy for anything--be it ailment or habit--we must endeavour to get at the cause of the evil complained of4 ,the most successful medical men are those who first take time and pains to ascertain the wherefore1 and then seek to effect the cure4 ,the extremely ungraceful and unpleasant motion known as the double rise is attributable to two distinct causes4 ,it is due either to the horse or to the rider1 and to the one quite as frequently as to the other4 ,a large1 heavy animal1 with slow and clumsy action will1 if ridden by a lady1 be almost certain to necessitate the double rise4 ,this ,i know by the certainty derived from experience4 ,i was staying some time ago at a house in the midst of our finest hunting county in ,ireland1 namely1 royal ,meath4 ,the owner was a great hunting-man in both senses of the word1 for he was a superb cross-country rider1 and1 if put in the scales1 would pull down sixteen stone4 ,being a top-weight he always rode immense horses--elephants ,i used to call them1 greatly to his indignation4 ,very good he was about lending me one of these huge creatures whenever ,i felt desirous of joining the chase1 which ,i confess was but seldom1 for the first day upon which ,i accepted a mount we left off eighteen miles from home1 and ,i was so exhausted by the time we arrived there1 that ,i fairly fainted before reaching my own chamber4 ,it was not the distance which tired me1 although it was a pretty good one1 but the fact that ,i was troubled with the double-rise all the way4 ,i strove in vain to remedy it by urging my gigantic steed to a faster trot1 and making him go up to his bridle2 but the moment ,i began to experience a little relief1 my companion--dear old man1 now in heaven6--would say1 ,well1 that is the worst of ladies riding3 they must always either creep in a walk1 or bucket their horses along at an unnecessary pace4 ,why can't you jog on quietly1 as ,i do8 ,he was clearly not suffering from the annoyance which was vexing and fatiguing me4 ,i looked at him closely1 watched his motion in the saddle--that slow1 slow rise and fall--,i compared it with mine1 our pace being the same1 and the mystery was at once solved4 ,both horses were trotting exactly together1 keeping step1 as the saying goes1 yet my companion was at ease whilst ,i was in torment4 ,why was this8 ,because he had a leg at either side of his mount1 his weight equally distributed1 and an equal support upon both sides2 in fact1 he had1 as all male riders have1 the advantage of a double support in the rise2 consequently1 at the moment when his weight was removed from the saddle1 it was thrown upon both feet1 and this equal distribution enabled him to accomplish without fatigue that slow rise and fall which is so tiring to a lady1 whose weight when she is out of the saddle is thrown entirely upon one delicate limb1 thus inducing her to fall again as soon as possible1 which1 if riding a clumsy animal1 she is constrained to do at variance1 as it were1 with his tedious and heavy motion1 and hence the inconvenience of the double rise4 ,to illustrate my meaning1 and explain more fully how it happens that men never complain of this particular evil3 a man will be able to stand in his stirrups for a considerable time1 even to ride a gallop so doing1 because he transfers his weight equally to this feet2 but how rarely do we see a lady balanced upon one leg6 ,never1 except it be for a single instant whilst arranging her skirt or trying her stirrup4 ,the sensation is not agreeable1 and would be1 moreover1 unpleasantly productive of wrung backs4 ,a heavy horse is never in any way suitable to a lady4 ,it looks amiss4 ,the trot is invariably laboured1 and if the animal should chance to fall1 he gives his rider what we know in the hunting-field as a mighty crusher6 ,it is1 indeed1 a rare thing to meet a perfect lady's horse4 ,in all my wide experience ,i have met but two4 ,breeding is necessary for stability and speed--two things most essential to a hunter2 but good light action is1 for a roadster1 positively indispensable1 and a horse who does not possess it is a burden to his rider1 and is1 moreover1 exceedingly unsafe1 as he is apt to stumble at every rut and stone4 ,the double rise may also1 as ,i said1 be quite attributable to the rider4 ,a careless way of riding may occasion it1 sitting loosely in the saddle1 and allowing your horse to go asleep over his work4 ,pull you mount together1 so as to throw his weight upon his haunches1 not upon his shoulders4 ,keep your reins close in hand4 ,rise1 so that you shall be out of the saddle when his off fore-leg is thrown out1 and ,i do not think you will have much to complain of from the annoyance occasioned by the double rise4 ,i have dwelt upon this subject because so many have asked me privately for a cure for it1 and ,i have surmised that numerous others1 who have not had opportunity--nor perhaps courage--to ask1 will nevertheless be pleased to receive a hint4 ,it has also been inquired of me whether there is any remedy for that excessively unsightly practice of sticking out the right foot when in the saddle1 as we have seen so many ladies do1 until the toe is positively almost resting upon the horse's neck4 ,there is1 of course1 a remedy2 a most effectual one4 ,don't do it4 ,it is quite possible and even easy to keep the right leg as close to the saddle as the left1 the toe pointing downward1 and the knee well bent4 ,i know1 however1 that in some cases the position objected to is consequent upon the up-pommel of the saddle being placed too near the off one1 thus there is not sufficient space for the leg to lie easily1 and consequently it sticks out in the ungraceful manner so often seen and deplored4 ,in many instances1 also1 it is habit2 a bad practice1 indulged in at first without notice1 and then1 when confirmed1 most difficult to eradicate4 ,these pernicious habits are extremely apt to grow upon all of us1 unless most carefully watched1 ,i have seen ladies utterly disfigure their appearance in the saddle by placing a hand upon their side1 or1 worse again1 behind their back1 and riding along in this jaunty style with an air as though they thought themselves the most elegant creatures in creation4 ,others keep their elbows a-kimbo1 and fairly churn themselves in the saddle with every rise and fall4 ,others1 again1 acquire a habit of tipping their horse with the whip in an altogether unnecessary manner4 ,it is not actually enough to hurt the animal1 but is amply sufficient to worry and ruffle his temper4 ,no horse fit to carry a lady requires to be constantly reminded of his work4 ,a whip in a woman's hand should be more for show1 and to give completeness to the picture1 than for purposes of castigation4 ,nothing looks worse nor more ungentle than to see it wantonly applied4 ,it has been said1 ,spare the rod and spoil the child1 but ,i cannot agree with the theory4 ,rod and whip may be alike useful in 7happily7 isolated cases1 but ,i do not envy the disposition of child or animal who cannot be made amenable by less ungentle means4 ,practices which are the result of habit may be checked1 and quite effectually1 by the bestowal of a little care4 ,we want first some kindly friend to tell us of them2 we next require the common sense and good feeling not to be offended at the telling2 and1 finally1 we need the patience and perseverance which are born of the determination to overcome the fault4 ,with regard to the telling1 how few of us know how to tell6 ,there are just the two ways1 or perhaps ,i should say three4 ,there is the cold1 carping1 disagreeable fault-finding manner1 which picks holes for the mere pleasure of picking them1 and the unworthy delight of seeing how the victim writhes beneath the torture4 ,there is the snake-like1 insidious fault-finding--the worst and most dangerous of all--which invariably commences with the words1 ,you know1 my dear1 ,i am only telling you for your own good4 ,this species of fault-finding is peculiar to the female friend1 and is invariably served up with an admixture of honey and gall1 so skilfully compounded that the very soul of the listener is exercised and deceived4 ,her words were smoother than oil1 yet were they drawn swords4 ,lastly1 there is the genuine1 honest1 open-hearted1 fault-finding1 which bears no malice1 and is too true to clothe itself with the garment of deceit4 ,by this alone we should be influenced or seek to influence others2 but1 for my own part1 as ,i have already said1 ,i have found the world so inordinately self-opinionated and determined not to be advised1 that ,i have long since ceased to offer counsel1 and only give it when requested4 ,long ago1 when ,i first began to write1 ,i was jealous of all interference1 and invariably prefaced my letters to my ,editors with1 ,please do not alter anything in my ,,ms4 ,poor blind child ,i was then1 groping about in the dark1 and sadly needing the helping hand which ,i was so obstinately rejecting4 ,well1 we gain sense with years1 and wisdom with experience4 ,now that ,i have got on in the world1 in every sense of the word1 ,i am only too anxious for advice1 and ready to grasp at every friendly hint4 ,and so it should be with riding as with writing4 ,take all kindly counsel in good part1 and if given advice ask for more4 ,bad habits grow upon us with giant force2 they strengthen with our strength1 because we know not of them1 or blindly refuse to be controlled4 ,i dare say a good many of us are acquainted with a very famous queen of song who always holds her hands crossed and her thumbs turned stiffly up whilst she is singing4 ,i do not believe she is at all aware of the peculiarity of her attitude1 and perhaps she could not sing half so well nor sweetly if she altered it4 ,in like manner ,i told you1 in the earlier portion of this volume1 of a young lady who could not ride a yard without laying a firm grip upon the off-pommel of her saddle4 ,these things are habit2 we do them without consciousness2 we are not aware of anything unusual in ourselves1 but when the knowledge comes to us 7which it soon will if we are known to possess sufficient sweetness to take a hint7 we should turn it to advantage1 and so improve with time4 ,i recollect that when these writings of mine were first issued in the journal to which they originally owed their appearance1 a dear lady wrote to me all the way from ,rhode ,island1 ,u4,s4,a41 asking me for hints upon various subjects1 and likewise offering me a few such1 with so much sweetness that ,i not alone accepted1 but welcomed and adopted them4 ,she asked me many questions relative to the pictures with which my various subjects were illustrated1 and admired very warmly the spirited drawings which ,mr4 ,sturgess had made of my leap into the farmyard and also of ,the first fence4 ,many of my readers may recollect them2 and as there was1 at the time1 much discussion respecting the position of my feet as portrayed in the former picture1 ,i take this opportunity of ranging myself upon the artist's side1 for1 after much thoughtful inspection of the picture1 ,i arrived at the conclusion that he was perfectly correct1 and the position quite such as must of necessity be1 in the event of a runaway steed clearing such an obstacle with a wearied and startled rider scarce able to retain her seat upon his back4 ,even had the artist been mistaken--which ,i am bound to say he was not--the matter need scarcely have evoked criticism1 for his strong point is his delineation of horses1 and as he has no equal in this particular branch of art1 he may well be forgiven if such trifles as a lady's feet occasionally puzzle him a little6 ,moreover1 he draws with a view to producing effect as much as ensuring stereotyped correctness4 ,i recollect when ,i saw that picture ,i sounded my protest against the flowing skirt and flying veil3 two things quite foreign to my style of riding-dress1 which is always severely close-fitting and curtailed4 ,his answer certainly carried weight4 ,the skirt and veil were necessary to impart an appearance of rapid motion1 or flying through the air4 ,he was quite right1 and ,i was decidedly wrong4 ,i felt ashamed of myself1 begged his pardon mentally1 and atoned for my audacity by henceforward believing blindly in his judgment4 ,i recollect laughing much at the time at a grave suggestion made to me by a dear old lady1 who thought there might be a particular reason why ,mr4 ,sturgess was 7in her opinion7 less successful in depicting lady equestrians than when pursuing any other branch of his enchanting art4 ,neither she nor ,i had or have1 unfortunately1 the pleasure of his personal acquaintance1 but we thought there might possibly be somebody in authority who strongly objected to his studying the details of the fair creatures whom he has occasionally to draw4 ,to show that such things may be1 and actually are1 in real life1 ,i recollect that when ,i was staying some two or three years ago at a famous house in the north of ,england1 a gay harvest-home took place1 and the servants and labourers had a dance in the barn4 ,i and my husband1 our host and hostess1 and numerous guests staying at the castle1 went out to see the fun1 and greatly was ,i struck with the gallant appearance of the old barn1 so gaily decorated with corn1 and the fiddler fiddling away upon a beer-barrel6 ,a mighty cheer was raised for us when we all1 in full evening dress1 joined the motley company of revellers1 and the lord of the soil led off a country dance with a blushing mountain-lass1 followed by her ladyship with an equally humble partner4 ,the blacksmith was an ,irishman1 and looked very shy1 as ,irishmen invariably do in presence of the fair sex787 ,i knew him as a workman upon the estate--,i knew also that his wife1 a very ugly woman1 was a terribly jealous shrew--and1 actuated by a spirit of mischief1 ,i went and asked him to dance2 but he only grinned1 blushed1 and said1 ,no1 thank you1 ma'am2 ,i'm a married man6 ,my husband1 who was standing by1 said laughingly1 ,why1 ,brian1 you ought to feel flattered to be asked4 ,give ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue your arm1 and take your place for the dance4 ,o1 faix1 said ,brian1 hastening to obey1 if you have no objection1 ,i'm sure ,i have none4 ,let her come on6 ,only1 he added1 pausing and scratching his head1 begorrah1 ,i hope my wife won't see me6 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,subject ,,of ,,feeding ,,resumed4--,,cooked ,,food ,,recommended4--,,effects ,,of ,,raw ,,oats ,,upon ,,pleader4--,,servants' ,,objections4--,,snaffle-,,bridle1 ,,and ,,bit-,,and-,,bridoon4--,,kindness ,,to ,,the ,,poor4--,,an ,,unsympathetic ,,lady4--,,an ,,ungallant ,,captain4--,,what ,,is ,a ,,gentleman8--,,au ,,revoir6 ,my remarks upon the subject of feeding horses1 having gained publicity through the columns of the press1 have called forth much comment and adverse criticism4 ,some have evidently considered--and have not hesitated to say--that ,i have written the veriest twaddle2 but happily there is a reverse side to the picture1 and many 7including one very august personage indeed7 have expressed a determination to adopt my system4 ,beans are such excellent feeding that ,i cannot object to an admixture of them1 and to most ,english horses they are almost a necessity2 but in ,ireland we care little about them4 ,it is unwise to give too much hay4 ,i said abundance on a former page1 but the word1 as ,i used it1 did not signify a large quantity4 ,for horses fed three times daily upon a plentiful measure of oats1 crushed ,indian corn1 and beans if desired1 a few handfuls of hay will be amply sufficient1 and this should be placed where the horse can stoop to it1 but never above him1 as in the effort to disengage it from the rack the seeds fall in his eyes and produce irritation1 and sometimes permanent disease4 ,a bran-mash on a ,saturday night1 or after a hard day1 forms an admirable variety to the ordinary feeding routine4 ,let the bran be thoroughly well steeped and mixed1 and a portion of cooked oats or chopped carrots intermingled with it4 ,this will induce almost any animal to partake of the bran1 from which otherwise many delicate feeders will resolutely turn4 ,i have strongly recommended cooked feeding1 even against the uproar of a general outcry against it1 because ,i have seen and proved its efficacy4 ,last ,november1 on the first ,tuesday in the month--the opening day with the ,kildare hounds--we had a splendid run1 during which1 however1 ,i was amazed to find that my great horse1 ,pleader1 sweated heavily--a thing which had never previously been the case4 ,in fact1 it had always been my boast that when other horses were thoroughly done1 mine had not turned a hair2 but1 on the day in question1 he was in a white lather1 and ,i thought appeared distressed4 ,upon coming home1 and speaking about it in my stable1 ,i was informed that the boiler was in some way out of order1 and the horses had1 unknown to me1 been fed upon uncooked oats during the preceding three days4 ,had ,i required any confirmation of my theory1 this circumstance would certainly have furnished it1 and entirely defeats the general supposition that cooked food renders horses soft4 ,i have now given the best advice ,i can upon the subject of feeding1 and ,i shall not again refer to it1 nor to anything connected with the treatment or stable management of horses1 as the subject is an endless one1 everybody entertaining an opinion of his own1 which it shall not be my ambition to upset4 ,what ,i have said has been in kindness1 and with a view to benefiting both man and beast2 but ,i do not by any means expect the majority of my readers to coincide in my views4 ,there is a stolid determination general throughout the world to stick to old customs and old-fashioned ways and habits1 no matter how excellent the modern ones may be1 and so the horse and mill go daily round4 ,masters object to my system because it involves an outlay in the erecting of a proper boiler and other necessary adjuncts2 servants object to it because it gives them a little additional trouble4 ,it is far easier to lounge to the oat-bin1 fill a measure from it1 and thrust it before the animal1 not caring whether it is rejected or otherwise1 than to fetch the water and fill the boiler and go through the labours of a process which1 in itself exceedingly simple1 is made to appear complicated and laborious by the amount of fuss and discontent which are brought to bear upon the work4 ,there is an old saying1 ,if you want a thing well done1 do it yourself2 but1 unfortunately1 there are some things--and this is one--which ladies and gentlemen cannot do1 and there is no doubt whatever that servants accustomed to the old style of management will never willingly adopt the new--unless they belong to that rare and select and most exclusive few who have their masters' interest at heart4 ,much information has been asked of me relative to the subject of holding reins4 ,how often shall ,i say that there is no fixed rule1 and that a method which may look well for park-riding will be totally out of place in the hunting-field4 ,i have been asked how ,i hold my own bridle1 and ,i shall answer that ,i almost invariably ride with a single rein1 and you can understand my method readily if you will follow me whilst ,i endeavour to explain4 ,take your pocket-handkerchief1 pass it through the back of any ordinary chair1 and bring the ends evenly towards you1 holding them for an instant with your right hand1 which must1 pro tem41 represent the buckle4 ,place your left hand within the loop thus formed1 the little finger resting firmly against the near-side1 about four inches above the right hand2 grasp the opposite side between the forefinger and thumb1 left hand 7the two sides of the handkerchief representing the reins72 press the off-side slightly inward with the pressure of your thumb1 slipping it entirely away from the control of the right hand2 then bring the near-side1 which still is held loosely by the right1 under the thumb of the left1 and hold it firmly4 ,you will thus see that you establish a sort of cross rein1 and that you have1 and are able to maintain1 a secure grip upon either side4 ,by an outward movement or slight turning of the wrist1 accompanied by pressure of the little finger1 you will control your horse upon the near-side of his mouth1 whilst by an inward movement and pressure of the forefinger you will be able to command him upon the other or off-side4 ,it must be borne in mind that these movements should be from the wrist only1 and not from the arm or shoulder4 ,a good rider will keep the elbows close to the sides1 just drawing the line finely between that pinioned look which is so disfiguring1 and the detestable flapping1 like the wings of an unquiet bird1 in which so many riders1 both male and female1 so frequently indulge4 ,i have seen ladies1 who wished to have an appearance of hard riding1 leaning forward in the saddle and working their elbows in an unsightly manner1 the hands 7influenced by the elbows7 sawing also1 and the poor horse1 with open mouth and straining jaws1 staggering along in distress1 fighting his bridle1 and presenting altogether a melancholy spectacle4 ,a firm even seat1 elbows close1 head erect1 and strong steady hands held low--these are the characteristics of a good and lady-like rider4 ,in going across country put both hands to your bridle1 and keep your horse's head straight and well in hand1 but do not attempt to pull him nor interfere with him at his fences1 or you will undoubtedly come to grief4 ,if you ride with a bit and bridoon my advice is1 ride your horse--even though he be a puller--upon the snaffle1 and keep the curb rein looped over your little finger1 hanging quite loose1 yet in such a position that you can if necessary take it up at a second's notice4 ,i cannot too often impress upon you the advisability of being conciliatory and kind in your manner to everybody with whom you may come in contact4 ,no matter how exalted your rank may be1 you can all the better afford to be courteous to those beneath you4 ,kind words cost nothing1 and are as balm to the hearer4 ,many of the lower orders are quite as much gentry at heart1 and far more so1 than those who hide their unworthiness beneath the convenient shadow of a family tree4 ,i have been more than once pained upon hunting days by the extreme contempt and rudeness with which ladies have treated the poor1 who have asked nothing from them save the innocent and inexpensive privilege of seeing them mount and canter away with the field4 ,it is all very well to say1 ,i do not like to be stared at1 but even to those who most dislike it1 surely it is worth a little self-sacrifice to see the undisguised enjoyment and listen to the original observations of the ,irish peasantry1 to whom a sight of the hounds--especially when followed by ladies--is a treat they never care to miss4 ,i was riding last winter in company with a lady1 very noble1 very handsome1 very proud4 ,we came up to a branch of a river1 upon the brink of which some country folk had gathered1 with the innocent desire of seeing it jumped4 ,a poor man1 very quiet-looking and harmless1 was actually knocked down and immersed in the water by a reckless young officer1 who galloped over him1 and went on without even glancing back at the spot where the poor half-drowned creature stood wringing his dripping clothing1 yet not uttering a syllable of reproach4 ,my companion roared with laughter1 first at the catastrophe1 and then at me for sympathising with the sufferer4 ,apologise6 she cried1 in a high key4 ,how could ,captain ,dash apologise to a man like that8 ,it would be different had he been a gentleman4 ,i thought so too1 if the meaning of the word he had only been reversed2 but ,i said nothing1 and we went on4 ,a few fields further we came to a terrible obstacle--a high post and rails1 with a deep and yawning ditch upon the landing side4 ,three or four of us went at it3 the rest turned away and sought the road4 ,i got over safely1 my noble ,pleader proving himself1 as usual1 worthy of my confidence4 ,captain ,dash came next1 safely also2 and then my ill-starred lady friend1 whose horse 7an inferior timber-jumper7 bungled1 and left her completely prostrate upon the wet earth4 ,never a pause did ,captain ,dash make in his onward career1 although he glanced back when he heard her shriek1 and1 incredible as it may appear1 ,i thought ,i saw him smile1 for it was ever his saying that ladies had no business hunting1 and always deserved mischance2 but the poor man1 at whose immersion she had laughed a few moments before1 came running to her relief1 rendered her every assistance in his power1 replaced her in the saddle1 expressed regret for her accident1 and positively declined to accept of any remuneration for his services4 ,which of these men1 think you1 was the gentleman8 ,i know what ,i thought respecting the question2 and ,i judged that my friend's opinion was formed as mine1 for she now loves and cares the poor1 and suffers the rich to care themselves1 as every true-hearted and ,christian woman should2 and1 moreover1 on glancing over a book of my poems which ,i lent her some time later1 ,i found a leaf turned down1 as though to mark these lines-- ,what is a gentleman8 ,is it a thing ,decked with a scarf-pin1 a chain1 and a ring1 ,dressed in a suit of immaculate style1 ,sporting an eye-glass1 a lisp1 and a smile8 ,talking of operas1 concerts1 and balls1 ,evening assemblies1 and afternoon calls1 ,sunning himself at at homes and bazaars1 ,whistling mazurkas1 and smoking cigars8 ,what is a gentleman8 ,say1 is it one ,boasting of conquests and deeds he has done1 ,one who unblushingly glories to speak ,things which should call up a flush to his cheek8 ,one who1 whilst railing at actions unjust1 ,robs some young heart of its pureness and trust2 ,scorns to steal money1 or jewels1 or wealth1 ,thinks it no crime to take honour by stealth8 ,what is a gentleman8 ,is it not one ,knowing instinctively what he should shun1 ,speaking no word that could injure or pain1 ,spreading no scandal and deep'ning no stain8 ,one who knows how to put each at his ease1 ,striving instinctively always to please2 ,one who can tell by a glance at your cheek ,when to be silent1 and when he should speak8 ,what is a gentleman8 ,is it not one ,honestly eating the bread he has won1 ,living in uprightness1 fearing his ,god1 ,leaving no stain on the path he has trod8 ,caring not whether his coat may be old1 ,prizing sincerity far above gold1 ,recking not whether his hand may be hard1 ,stretching it boldly to grasp its reward8 ,what is a gentleman8 ,say1 is it birth ,makes a man noble1 or adds to his worth8 ,is there a family-tree to be had ,shady enough to conceal what is bad8 ,seek out the man who has ,god for his ,guide1 ,nothing to blush for1 and nothing to hide2 ,be he a noble1 or be he in trade1 ,this is the ,gentleman ,,nature has made4 ,now1 kind reader1 farewell4 ,if ,i have given you instruction1 called a laugh to your lips1 or taught you to prize and cherish the priceless creature which ,god has generously sent for our enjoyment and our use1 ,i shall cheerfully lay aside my pen1 happy in the conviction that ,i have not written in vain4 ,yet1 shall ,i say in the song-words1 ,au revoir4 ,pas adieu6 for we meet again1 ,i trust1 soon and often2 but the subject upon which ,i have been writing has come to an end4 ,whilst acknowledging the kindness of my friends1 ,i would desire also to shake hands with my enemies4 ,life is short1 and so it behoves us to bear no malice4 ,to those who have unkindly criticised me ,i offer freely a forgiving hand and heart4 ,i have never wilfully offended any1 and if my efforts have not come quite up to the standard of excellence which certain captious critics have set up1 ,i have at least done my best1 and have been careful1 in propounding theories which might appear new and uncommon1 to state that such things were according to my notions1 in which1 however1 ,i did not expect all persons to coincide4 ,so long as the world lasts so long will there be differences of opinion2 but it is not because such exist that ill-feeling should creep in1 and ,christian charity become a thing of nought4 ,in ancient days1 when the ,apostles were upon the earth1 these things were as they are now2 yet the ,great ,example1 to whose pure and simple teaching we all hopefully look1 inspired the command1 ,let brotherly love continue4 ,so be it1 reader1 with you and with me4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,,hunting ,,in ,,ireland4 ,there is at present a mighty outcry in our poor land4 ,not against battle1 murder1 and sudden death1 landlord-killing1 and ,boycotting1 but against our royal pastime--hunting4 ,the tenant-farmers are uproarious in their opposition to it2 and1 with a headstrong determination which cannot be too strongly condemned1 refuse to listen to the voice of the reasoner4 ,we are but in the beginning of our season1 yet is our prospect marred and our pleasure spoilt by the blind idiotcy1 not of the few1 but1 unfortunately1 of the many4 ,they have but one cry1 ,you are ruining our grass-lands6 ,a more egregious error could not possibly exist4 ,is it wilful blindness or merely the desire to banish landlordism from the country which induces this senseless outcry8 ,if the latter1 there is unhappily every probability that the outcriers will succeed2 if the former1 there may be some hope of ultimately unclosing their sealed eyelids4 ,a body of horsemen galloping over grassland during the hunting season can never occasion injury2 it is simply an absurdity to endeavour to maintain a contrary theory4 ,a great friend of mine and a most practical gentleman1 who possesses a large common attached to his grounds1 upon which he can1 if desirable1 exercise his horses1 always prefers doing so throughout the winter upon his finest grass-land4 ,he maintains1 and correctly1 that they do it an immensity of good1 and once offered 7to prove the correctness of his judgment7 to give the use of the said land to the colonel of a cavalry regiment stationed in his vicinity--to do all his work upon throughout the winter months4 ,the offer1 after some demur1 was accepted1 and proved to be most advantageous to the land-owner4 ,being an enthusiastic follower of the ,ward ,union stag-hounds1 ,i am enabled to state that ,i have galloped with them1 in company with at least two hundred other riders1 across the ,ward ,country and over the ,fairyhouse lands1 which are--as is well known--of a singularly wet and holding nature2 and this not once1 but many times throughout the season4 ,yet1 so early as ,april1 at which date the famous ,fairyhouse races take place1 no track or footmark can be seen upon the luxuriant grass4 ,again1 when riding in winter through ,phoenix ,park1 ,i have been struck by the state of mud to which it has been reduced through the frequent galloping of horses over its surface2 yet1 in summer it grows the finest grass1 and is as smooth as a billiard-table4 ,one day in ,june1 three years ago1 a grand ,review was held there in honour of the ,queen's birthday4 ,a terrible shower came down--one of those mighty floods which can1 in a few moments1 transform a beauteous green sward into a hideous mass of unsightly mire and dirt4 ,those on foot ploughed patiently through it1 sinking ankle-deep at every step2 those upon horseback1 myself included1 churned it beneath their horses' feet1 until not a trace was visible of the emerald carpet1 which1 one short hour before1 had afforded firm footing for many thousands of spectators4 ,three weeks later1 ,i rode through that park again2 the velvety turf was green and fresh as ever1 nor was there visible one trace of the countless feet which had1 as it were1 waded over it so short a time before4 ,the day upon which ,st4 ,stephen's ,park was1 through the princely generosity of ,lord ,ardilaun1 opened to the public1 was a wet1 or at least a damp one1 and thousands upon thousands of roughly-shod feet cut up the grassy sward2 yet1 in a few brief days1 it was rich and verdant as before4 ,nor do ,i think there is in our noble ,phoenix ,park a more luxuriant stretch of grass-land than is the nine acres upon which polo players continually assemble4 ,having thus1 then1 endeavoured to prove that the galloping of horses is in no way injurious to pasture lands1 ,i shall proceed to the consideration of other matters connected with the subject in question4 ,if hunting in ,ireland were abolished1 then indeed might the cries of her children ascend heavenward1 for ,i know not what would become of her6 ,the gentry who are now resident landlords1 maintaining large and costly establishments1 would migrate to other countries and more genial climes4 ,servants would seek in vain for employment4 ,boot-makers1 clothiers1 saddlers1 harness-makers1 would find no custom4 ,the farmer would sigh vainly for a price for his corn4 ,hay and straw would be a drug in the market4 ,hunting-lodges would remain unlet1 growing mouldy with time and damp4 ,butchers1 bakers1 poulterers1 butter-makers would be alike involved in one common ruin2 for the houses of the gentry would be empty1 and desolation would overspread the land6 ,no buyers then for high-priced hunters and promising colts1 which now command so high a figure2 no merging of grades and mingling of classes in that happy contact which the hunting-field so well engenders2 none of that delicious feeling of equality which the peer and the peasant seem alike to acknowledge whilst participating side by side in the dangers and excitement of the chase4 ,all would be stillness1 solitude1 and gloom6 ,suffer me1 then1 to implore my countrymen and countrywomen to do all in their power to promote the pleasures of hunting4 ,it must immensely benefit even those who do not actually participate in the sport1 inasmuch as it brings rich and poor into happy contact1 and causes a vast amount of money to be circulated1 which enriches the pockets of the poorer classes1 and brings grist to many a mill which would otherwise stand desolate1 with disused and motionless wheel4 ,to us who do participate in it1 there is no need for speech4 ,which of us does not know the pleasures of preparing for the glorious sport8 the early rousing up from slothful slumber1 the anxious outward glance at the weather1 that fitful tyrant which makes or mars our enjoyment2 the donning of hunting garments1 the packing of sandwich boxes1 the filling of flasks with whisky1 or better1 far better1 with strong cold tea2 the cheery drive to the meet1 the many happy faces assembled there1 the greetings amongst friends1 the praisings of the pack1 the trot to the covert1 the dashing of the hounds into the gorse1 the sweet music which proclaims that ,reynard is at home1 the joyous sound of the ,gone away6 the hurry-scurry to be first and foremost in their wake1 the anathemas hurled against those who are over-riding them1 the tumbling at the fences1 the picking up again1 the drowning in the rivers1 the fishing out by the wreckers1 the maddening excitement of traversing an intricate country1 the wild desire to be in at the death1 the saving of our horses over holding lands1 the riding of them up to their bridles where the going is good1 the last mighty effort1 the final fence cleared1 and the canter up to where the huntsman is holding aloft the brush and mask1 and the hounds are breaking up their fox6 ,who that has ever experienced these joys will be likely to forget them1 or will fail to promote1 by every means in his power1 so health-giving and enlivening a sport8 ,we have one very serious drawback to our hunting in ,ireland1 and1 indeed1 in many other places also--namely1 wire fencing4 ,i saw something of a tragic incident occur last season whilst hunting with the ,meath hounds4 ,we came up to an impassable fence1 and all made for the gate1 which was open2 but the owner of the land rushed out from his dwelling1 shut it in our faces1 and insolently refused to allow us to pass4 ,threats and entreaties were alike vain4 ,he called us every name in the calendar1 and consigned us all to a very ugly place1 in language which was certainly not parliamentary4 ,many of the field turned off and sought another way1 but two or three of the bold ones charged the gate1 and got over1 clearing man and all6 ,i and one other took the fence--a mad proceeding1 which gave us both an ugly fall2 but we scrambled up somehow1 and succeeded in picking up the hounds4 ,late in the evening1 whilst hunting another fox1 he led us over the same identical ground1 and a hard-riding gentleman1 first at this mighty obstacle1 charged it boldly1 but1 alas1 with what a result6 ,the farmer had1 during our absence1 run a stiff wire through the fence1 which1 catching the horse in the breast1 turned him completely over1 breaking the rider's arm1 and otherwise severely injuring him4 ,some members of the hunt1 seeing what had occurred1 besieged the offender's dwelling1 and he had an extremely uncomfortable ten minutes4 ,i have heard persons aver that the man was badly treated1 and that he had a perfect right to wire his fences if he so willed4 ,undoubtedly he had1 if it were done openly and in such a way that the wiring could be discerned1 but not1 by petty treachery1 to imperil the safety1 if not the lives1 of a large number of persons4 ,my advice to farmers would be this2 wire the fences if necessary2 but1 at the commencement of the hunting season1 cut away1 say twenty yards of the wiring at the poorest point of the field1 and mark the spot with a pole and flag4 ,every rider would assuredly make for it as being the only jumpable place1 and at the close of the season a few boys with five-grained forks would speedily set all to rights2 nor can there be any doubt that the best crop in the field would be on that particular spot4 ,allowing even for a moment1 for argument's sake1 that expense1 trouble1 or loss might be thus occasioned1 there is not a master of hounds in all ,ireland--neither1 ,i fancy1 in any other country--who would not willingly and cheerfully indemnify the owner of the land4 ,but so long as the world lasts1 so long will there be blindness2 and until the happy hunting-grounds are reached1 horses and horsemen will be daily anathematised by the self-willed cultivators of our native soil4 ,,part ,v4 ,,hunting ,,in ,,america4 ,there is a great land across the ,atlantic where they do great things1 and utter great sayings1 and patent great inventions1 and erect great buildings--and where1 in short1 the inhabitants beat us 7as they themselves say7 all to fits6 ,a mighty nation they are1 too--,god prosper them as they deserve2 but there is one thing at least in which we can say1 without boasting1 we are able to beat them1 and that is1 in our hunting4 ,a fox-hunt in ,america is a very tame and inglorious proceeding1 and one which decidedly would not come under our definition of sport4 ,american hunting differs in the first instance from ours1 inasmuch as it is always a summer pastime4 ,the extreme severity of the winters necessitates this1 as during the cold season neither men nor horses can work4 ,the disadvantages of summer hunting are of course numerous4 ,the heat is excessive1 and the crops are in the ground4 ,most of the ,american farmers and graziers own their land1 and the greater number of them will not suffer hoofs to cross it4 ,this is partly from a spirit of surly independence--partly from an ignorant determination to hold with stolid obstinacy to that most erroneous belief1 that the galloping of horses is injurious to grass-lands4 ,but1 anyhow1 the objection exists2 and as it is vain to attempt to overrule it1 a compromise is effected between hunting under difficulties and not hunting at all4 ,the system pursued is this4 ,a man--usually a stout-limbed peasant--is sent out1 who drags an aniseeded bag across country1 and over the lands and fences of such as will permit it1 or who are themselves in the habit of joining in the chase4 ,then1 when the field has assembled1 the hounds are laid on1 and work their way after the drag1 a bag-man being provided to blood them at the finish4 ,sometimes the pack comes too close upon the dragger1 and then a nasty scene ensues1 which is pleasanter not described4 ,fortunately for men1 horses1 and hounds1 hunting is but little indulged in throughout ,america4 ,i mean1 of course1 fox-hunting1 for ,i cannot attempt to cry down the many splendid and manly hunts of other descriptions in which the ,americans carry off the palm4 ,in many parts of the country--more especially in the ,states--the people so affect trotting-horses1 that the matter has become a craze4 ,it is a fact1 which has more than once been proved1 that four legs capable of carrying any sort of frame a mile in less than two-and-a-quarter minutes1 will easily fetch a thousand pounds2 and if the animal is in condition to repeat the performance several times in one day1 his price will range correspondingly higher4 ,the usual arrangement--very seldom varied--is that the trots shall be mile heats2 and as the horses are1 generally speaking1 pretty well done up at the finish1 owing to pace1 excitement1 and temperature1 twenty minutes are allowed between each heat for cooling off purposes4 ,when a horse is distanced in one of these trials1 he is at once withdrawn2 and the judges have the privilege1 which they use1 of distancing a horse for breaking--or1 as we would say1 commencing to run--which is1 as may be supposed1 a thing most difficult to prevent4 ,sometimes a racehorse is hitched double with a trotter4 ,this is called1 in ,american parlance1 a running-mate4 ,the runner takes all the weight and draft of the sulky1 and the trotter merely trots alongside of him4 ,it requires a very level-headed horse to keep evenly to his trot1 with a runner tearing away at sweeping pace beside him1 and the trial is regarded as simply one of skill1 and is rarely successful4 ,a trotter who can coolly and evenly maintain his trot when hitched with a racer1 can command for his owner any amount of money1 even though he be in all other respects comparatively worthless4 ,races1 of which many are held at ,rhode ,island1 are as distinct as possible from trots4 ,the courses are made circular2 as much so1 at least1 as the lie of the land will permit1 and are beautifully constructed1 the grading being especially attended to4 ,they are generally enclosed by a very high boarded fence1 an admission fee being charged at the opening4 ,this arrangement is found to answer admirably1 as the amount demanded--although not an extravagant one--is sufficient to exclude a goodly number of racing roughs1 whose interest in the sport is not more keen than their desire to investigate the contents of their neighbours' pockets4 ,trotting-tracks are constructed upon the same principles as race-courses1 but the track is harder4 ,sometimes1 however1 although not frequently1 races and trots are held over the same course1 and when this is done the track is carefully softened for the races1 by a harrowing process1 which is most carefully carried out4 ,most of the hacks and hunters in use in ,america--a very large portion1 at least1 of the saddle-horses--are racers which have been rejected from the racing-stables4 ,this is particularly the case at ,east ,greenwich1 and throughout the ,states4 ,some of these horses are weeds1 but a few of them are well worthy of the high prices given for them1 being really splendid animals1 in spite of the crabbing which they receive at the judge's hands before they are thrown out of the contest1 and passed over to the proprietorship of dealers in hacks4 ,very fine horses of the hunter class are bred in ,kentucky--the ,yorkshire of ,america--and are sold at comparatively low rates4 ,i saw a magnificent chestnut1 seventeen two in height1 with grand action1 and so superbly ribbed-up and built as to be capable of carrying twenty stone1 which had been sold there to an enterprising ,irish speculator for three hundred and twenty dollars1 a good deal less than eighty pounds of our money4 ,the animal afterwards fetched upwards of six hundred guineas at ,tattersall's1 to carry a top-weight millionaire with the ,whaddon ,chase hounds4 ,this was1 however1 an exceptional case1 for it is not usually an easy thing1 nor even possible1 to make money by trading in ,kentucky hunters4 ,a few speculative ,european dealers have from time to time tried it1 but their efforts have not been crowned with the anticipated reward1 the reason being1 that travelling expenses swallow up profits4 ,seven days and nights of constant journeying must be gone through before the animals are brought to the ,atlantic sea-board2 and then there is the crossing to encounter1 with its cost and perils4 ,altogether1 it is scarcely a profitable venture1 and some who have embarked in it will1 ,i know1 be quite ready to endorse my opinions upon the subject4 ,stag-hunting used to be very prevalent in distant parts of ,america4 ,strangers traversing tracts of country north of the ,ohio will be told this by guides and fellow-travellers1 and will marvel that in such a district it could ever have been a popular sport4 ,anything more perilous it would be impossible to conceive1 the going being principally up and down precipitous inclines1 dotted at frequent intervals with huge boulders1 half buried in the reedy grass1 over which the horses blunder and stumble at almost every stride1--not unfrequently hurling their riders headlong down some dangerous ravine4 ,those who have enjoyed the very doubtful pleasure of hunting at the ,cape1 know something of the perils of the ,mimosa tree1 which grows there in such deadly luxuriance4 ,a similar danger-trap exists in the stag-hunting districts of ,america1 the long sharp thorns proving terribly destructive to the flesh of man and beast4 ,it is almost impossible to escape these trees4 ,they grow singly and in groups1 with long1 light1 swaying branches1 treacherously outstretched2 and if an excited steed1 or an unwary rider comes too near to one of them1 no close-set company of razors could do more cruel injury1 nor make greater havoc of saddlery and clothing4 ,when we come to regard the question of district hunting in a comparative light1 few will hesitate to admit that in spite of all the drawbacks consequent upon wire-fencing1 fox-trapping1 and hound-poisoning1 there are worse countries to hunt in than dear old ,england2 and we who know the sweet delights of a good gallop over rich grass-lands1 dotted picturesquely with the harmless beech or elm1 and with nothing more dangerous to negotiate than fair broad fences and five-barred gates1 need never sigh for the yawning ravines of foreign hunting-grounds1 with their treacherous boulders and dangerous ,mimosas4 ,,correspondence4 ,,ladies ,,on ,,horseback4 ,to the ,editor of ,the ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news4 ,,sir1--,i have read with keen interest the article on ,ladies on ,horseback in your last number4 ,i find several things in it which differ from my preconceived ideas1 but it is impossible not to perceive that the writer1 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 speaks from an experience which makes her an undoubted authority4 ,with reference to safety-stirrups1 for instance4 ,i have always seen that the ladies of my family were provided with them1 and your contributor's objection seems not to be based upon the mechanism of the stirrup when in proper order1 but on the circumstance that it is almost invariably stiff1 through neglect4 ,i must admit that ,i have seen a lady hung up in a safety-stirrup2 but surely it is possible to see that the stirrup will work before setting out for a ride or a day's hunting1 and if the iron is large enough1 so that the padding over the instep will not cause the foot to become firmly embedded1 are we to understand that the safety-stirrup is objectionable8 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue has a poor opinion of ,john the coachman1 and ,jem the groom1 but ,i am lucky in having trustworthy people in my stable4 ,what stirrup would your contributor have instead of the one with which so large a proportion of ladies ride8 ,another thing that ,i should like to know more about is the saddle recommended in the article4 ,accustom yourself from the beginning to the use of a properly constructed saddle1 made as straight as a board1 no dip whatever1 this writer says4 ,now ,i have never1 so far as my recollection goes1 even seen such a saddle1 and may ,i ask what are the advantages of a thoroughly straight saddle1 and what are the disadvantages of the inevitable slope or dip8 ,i ask purely for information1 for ,i am perfectly ready to submit my judgment and hitherto received notions to the dictum of a lady who is clearly so competent to treat the matter as your contributor4 ,would the lady have straight saddles also for men8 is a question which incidentally occurs to me4 ,i am far from supposing that a thing must be right because it is in general use1 but there seem good reasons for the adoption of the ordinary shaped saddle1 and ,i should be very glad if your contributor would let us know her reasons for departing from custom4 ,before concluding1 let me thank you for a series of articles which cannot fail to be of value to those for whom they are intended4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,your obedient servant1 ,h4 ,,de ,v4 ,r4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i feel bound to answer the letter of ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4 which appeared in your journal of last week's issue4 ,with regard to the safety-stirrup1 there could not be much objection to it if it were made sufficiently large to prevent the padding over the instep from causing the foot to become embedded2 and if1 likewise1 some careful and competent person were ready and willing to give the machinery of it a thorough examination immediately before entrusting the safety of a lady to such an uncertain support4 ,but how seldom is this the case8 ,servants--even the most careful--are1 to say the least of it1 apt to overlook these important details2 and when the steed is led to the door the cavalier who is to escort the lady is too much occupied in admiring his fair charge1 talking to her1 arranging with her where they shall ride1 fastening her gloves1 or performing a like office for himself1 to worry his head about such an apparently insignificant thing as her stirrup4 ,provided he ascertains that it is the required length1 he troubles himself no further about it1 and probably in nine cases out of ten the dandy youth would not even comprehend the meaning of the term safety as applied to the article in question4 ,no doubt it often happens that an elderly father1 a matter-of-fact husband1 a phlegmatic uncle1 or a careful brother may be upon the spot1 with wits and hands ready to avert danger2 but how frequently1 also1 is it the fashionable stripling who escorts the lady--a cousin1 or a lover1 perhaps--ignorant of all connected with riding1 except the pleasure of it2 or the booted and belted servant1 who touches his hat1 and thinks he has done his duty because the saddle is clean and the horse sleek and shiny2 or the riding-master1 who has come out in a hurry1 anxious and flurried at the last moment to see that everything looks right1 and who has had no time to see after such minor accessories as stirrups1 or has left the matter 7if he thought of it at all7 in the hands of the groom1 who has left it alone altogether4 ,this being the case1 ,i maintain that a stirrup encumbered with machinery is unsuited to a lady1 because1 although she may have an escort who will look after it1 there is the possibility that she may not have such good fortune4 ,moreover1 a stirrup made sufficiently large to bear padding over the instep1 and yet enable the foot to slip easily in and out1 must of necessity be a considerable weight1 and this alone would be an objection1 especially to a hunting lady1 who calculates to a nicety every ounce which her steed has to carry4 ,i have said that a small racing1 or jockey-stirrup1 is the nicest in which a lady can ride1 and ,i am bound to adhere to my judgment4 ,so much for the first portion of ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4's letter4 ,now we come to the second4 ,my poor opinion of ,john1 the coachman1 and ,jem1 the groom1 is based1 not upon their untrustworthiness1 but upon their want of capacity as teachers of the equine art4 ,i have never yet1 in all my experience1 met with any servant who was capable of instructing a lady how to ride2 yet ,i have been fairly astonished to find the contrary idea quite general amongst parents in the country1 who fondly hope that their daughters may one day adorn a saddle and grace a hunting-field4 ,i shall have ,mary and ,jenny taught immediately now1 said a lady to me one day in the course of last summer1--,they shall have a pony a-piece1 and ,john 7the groom7 shall teach them4 ,of course1 ,i said nothing1 my principle of noninterference standing me in good stead2 but when an hour or so later1 ,i beheld the said ,john disporting himself1 and showing off his equestrian skill upon one of the carriage-horses1 ,i really felt pity for the two charming little girls who were so soon to be handed over to his doubtful tuition4 ,and now for the third portion of your correspondent's letter3 namely1 the question of the straight saddle4 ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4 says he has never seen any such2 and ,i consider this extremely probable1 for he will recollect my saying that a saddle such as ,i described should be made to order1 as it is certainly not in general use--but ,i am not altogether singular in my advocacy of it4 ,peat and ,co41 ,piccadilly1 or ,box and ,co41 ,abbey ,street1 ,dublin1 will manufacture saddles of this description in excellent style1 but only to order1 for they have not yet found sufficient favour--or1 to express it better1 are not sufficiently known--to have become popular1 and manufacturers therefore will not keep them in stock4 ,the advantages of a straight saddle are manifold4 ,firstly1 it is the only means by which a lady can learn the necessary art of riding from balance4 ,this can be acquired by sitting on a saddle1 but never by sitting in one4 ,secondly1 she can1 when riding upon a straight saddle1 change and shift her position1 which as a necessary consequence changes her weight upon the horse's back1 and saves him from being galled4 ,a noble lady wrote to me some time since1 ,i know not how it is2 all my horses are laid up with sore backs2 and yet my saddle is well padded4 ,i guessed the secret at once2 she was riding in a sort of well1 or chair1 from which her heavy weight could never for an instant shift1 and hence the trouble of which she complained4 ,i sent her a sketch of my saddle1 with the address of the man who had made it1 and she has since been a staunch upholder of my theory4 ,thirdly1 the best figure in the world would look to disadvantage if seated in a saddle with a dip or slope2 whereas a well-made woman1 attired in a habit properly fitted about the waist and hips1 never looks to such complete advantage as when sitting gracefully and at ease upon a well constructed straight-made saddle4 ,fourthly1 if in taking an up-jump the horse misses his footing and struggles in an unsuccessful effort to recover himself1 the lady may--if riding upon a straight saddle--succeed in slipping from it to a situation of comparative safety2 but1 if she has a high projection of iron and stiff leather just behind her1 it bars her movement1 and as a consequence the horse falls back upon her1 and catching her between his weight and the edge of the ditch or furrow1 as the case may be1 injures her spine1 sometimes fatally1 and frequently in a serious manner4 ,the question1 ,do ,i also advocate straight saddles for men's use8 is answered by my reminding ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4 that there is no analogy between a gentleman's position upon horseback and that of a lady4 ,what would be a necessity1 or at least a luxury1 for the one would be eminently unsuited for the other4 ,a man's superior activity and greater liberty of motion place him ever at an advantage4 ,and whilst upon this subject ,i would strongly urge upon all humane riders1 especially the male portion of them1 to have their saddles made high in front1 so as not to press upon the horse's withers1 causing him much needless suffering4 ,a space capable of accommodating at least two fingers should be between withers and saddle1 and were this attended to we should see fewer skin abrasions and unsightly lumps upon poor submissive animals1 and less of that stuffing of handkerchiefs between cruel leather and bleeding flesh which so frequently pains the sorrowing eyes of sensitive and pitying persons4 ,i think ,i have now dealt fully with ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4's letter1 and must thank the writer of it for his complimentary observations1 and his kindly appreciation of my labours in a cause which ,i certainly have very much at heart4 ,apologising for trespassing thus far upon your valuable space4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donaghue4 ,october #ab1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,many readers of ,the ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news hope that ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 in her very interesting letters upon ,ladies on ,horseback1 will touch fully on the most important thing1 viz4 the ladies' horse4 ,one sees ladies riding all sorts2 some too big1 some too small1 some good shoulders and no backs1 others just the reverse2 not one out of twenty what it ought to be4 ,also1 up to what weight should it be8 ,what is the average weight of ladies1 and the difference in ordinary dress to the habit8 ,it is often said that1 owing to the peculiar seat1 the weight being all on one side1 a lady tires a horse much more than a man2 certainly you often see ladies' horses going short with the near hind leg1 possibly from this cause4 ,could not the weight of side-saddles be reduced8 ,those used by the ,empress of ,austria could not have weighed #h lb41 and she was herself a light woman4 ,anything on this subject will interest many readers4 ,i am1 c4 ,,eques4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,there is one point to which ,i should like to call the attention of the writer of the able and interesting articles on ,ladies on ,horseback1 which she appears to have altogether overlooked in her enumeration of the articles of a lady's riding attire4 ,it is the use of a spur by lady equestrians4 ,the recently invented lady's spur consists of one sharp point so constructed as not to injure the habit4 ,in hunting1 a spur is indispensable1 and in park-riding is very desirable for a lady1 who has so much less control over her horse than a man4 ,young girls just beginning to ride will find the use of a spur most beneficial in managing their steeds4 ,hired horses are never altogether to be trusted1 and in the case of their showing temper or laziness1 two or three pricks with a lady's spur will subdue them far more quickly than the application of a whip4 ,i have more than once ridden a horse that was a confirmed jibber1 and have always found a few determined thrusts with my spur1 combined with an efficiently applied whip1 never failed to bring him down4 ,i confidently recommend all ladies1 and especially young girls just beginning the art of equitation1 to procure a lady's spur1 and never to mount a horse without it4 ,i am1 c4 ,,mabel ,,florence ,,rayne4 ,the ,firs1 ,cheltenham1 ,oct4 #ahth1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i suppose it would be impossible to advance any opinions to which there would not be objections raised1 but ,i write1 not in a cavilling spirit1 but as one really anxious for information1 to know whether ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue would seriously advocate striking a horse between the ears when it rears4 ,surely such a thing would be exceedingly dangerous for any lady to attempt1 and1 as your correspondent is writing solely for ladies1 ,i conclude she refers to them in the present instance4 ,i feel very strongly upon this point1 because an uncle of mine1 some years ago1 when out riding tried this experiment at the advice of a friend4 ,the horse 7not a vicious one7 suddenly reared2 my uncle loosened the reins and urged it forward1 but finding this ineffectual1 struck it violently between the ears with his hunting-whip4 ,the animal1 maddened1 ,i presume1 by the pain1 reared straight on end and fell backward2 its rider being a very agile man1 slipped off sideways1 and thus escaped nearly certain death2 but had the rider been a lady instead of a gentleman the consequences must have been fatal2 and with so light a switch as a lady usually carries1 a blow between the ears could only serve to irritate without producing any good effect4 ,i would ask one more question3 ,why does your correspondent so strongly object to the use of the old-fashioned slipper stirrup8 ,i am rather curious on this point1 because ,i have ever since the tender age of four1 when my riding experiences began1 used the shoe-stirrup1 and ,i have always thought it so safe1 because my foot slips out in a second4 ,i am aware that it is extremely unfashionable1 as in ,rotton ,row you hardly see a lady using it2 but ,i keep to it still1 not so much with the idea of its safety1 but for comfort1 especially in trotting4 ,i find it extremely difficult to keep an iron stirrup from slipping back into the instep1 and1 being used to rise pressing on the toes1 ,i think that rising from the instep is more difficult and doubles the exertion of trotting4 ,in conclusion1 ,i must express a hope that ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue will not give me credit for writing in a spirit of unfriendly criticism2 but as ,i am exceedingly fond of riding1 ,i feel an interest in working out this subject to its fullest extent4 ,i am sure all lady riders must feel grateful to ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue for the valuable and useful instructions contained in her interesting letters1 and one has only to pay a visit to the ,row between #ab and #b in the season1 to see how much they are needed by the generality of the ladies on horseback4 ,i am1 c4 ,,equestrina4 ,october #acth1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,though not an aggrieved stirrup-maker1 it may not be out of place if ,i1 as a saddler of many years' experience and a great lover of horses1 offer a few comments on the hints and instructions set forth in your paper for the benefit of ladies on horseback1 written by one of the sex who is evidently an authority on the subject she treats so ably4 ,there is no doubt these articles will be read with great interest by very many ladies who desire to acquit themselves well on horseback1 and also by their gentlemen friends who are anxious to conduce to the safety and comfort of their fair companions in that delightful exercise1 but cannot have the same knowledge to impart the theoretical instructions now given by your lady writer1 whose criticisms will therefore be valuable to both4 ,in following her remarks1 it occurs to me that ,i may perhaps venture on a little comment without being considered too intrusive4 ,the objection taken to children riding is no doubt formed on good grounds1 but ,i think that with care young ladies might be permitted at a much earlier age than sixteen to acquire some practice in the saddle2 it is true that young girls are liable to curvature of the spine1 when allowed to ride day after day on the same side of their pony1 but ,i have understood that this danger is obviated by changing their position to the other side on alternate days1 and ,i should be glad to learn what are the objections to this4 ,it seems to me rather desirable that ladies should have equal facility in riding on either side1 but there may be reasons against it of which ,i am ignorant4 ,this lady says that the nicest bridle for a beginner is a plain ring-snaffle1 but states further that few horses will go in it2 the latter remark1 if correct1 7which ,i should venture to doubt71 raises a fatal objection to the ring-snaffle1 as ,i fear that not one young lady in twenty1 under amateur teaching1 would be put upon a perfectly trained nag1 desirable as this must be2 and thus an ordinary stout mouth plain snaffle1 or plain bar with single rein1 would surely be preferable4 ,i fancy it would be found of much advantage if riding was taught in the first instance without the use of reins at all1 the horse simply being led by an attendant2 the learner thus gets a proper balance1 without depending on the bridle for support1 as many are found to do4 ,for a young girl ,i should like to know what is the objection to a pad1 or pilch as they are called1 made for use on either side4 ,these1 having no tree1 are nearly level1 but there is perhaps a chance of its turning round if the rider does not sit straight2 for a grown girl1 the properly made saddle is better every way4 ,in common with your correspondent ,h4 de ,v4 ,r41 ,i fail quite to understand how a side-saddle is to be made as straight as a board4 ,a saddle is made on a foundation1 or tree1 of wood and iron1 which should be shaped for the back intended to bear it1 and must be raised slightly in front for the wither and behind to clear the backbone2 but it is right that the seat should be as level as possible4 ,this is probably the lady's meaning4 ,it is very essential that the saddle should fit the horse correctly and be of suitable size and shape for the rider2 the former consideration is too often overlooked and thus entails discomfort to both4 ,there are saddles1 and saddles1 as ladies often find to their cost4 ,a very large proportion in use here1 and more abroad1 are put together in ,birmingham and ,walsall on the slop system2 they will please the eyes of an inexperienced purchaser1 but are formed with little regard to the requirements of the poor animals who suffer under them1 or of their riders' comfort1 and it is probable that these are the saddles against which ladies are very properly warned4 ,it is really indispensable for a lady's comfort in riding that she should have a good saddle1 made by a competent and conscientious saddler1 whose business it is to see that it is suitable4 ,considering the number of years that a good saddle with care will last1 it is inconceivable that the comparatively small additional price should be grudged for a perfect and satisfactory article by a maker of repute1 instead of the machine-made slop rubbish1 by which many a good animal is injured and the temper of his rider seriously chafed4 ,enough about saddles for the present1 so ,i will go to the next point under discussion--the stirrup4 ,your lady rider must have been very unfortunate in her use of the safety-stirrup1 which1 in my opinion1 does in practice usually justify its name4 ,i have known very many instances in which ladies have owed immunity from serious accident to its use4 ,as ,h4 de ,v4 ,r4 justly says1 the mechanism of the stirrup 7which is very simple7 should not be allowed to get out of order by neglect2 surely the lady or her friends1 particularly if so knowledgeable as the writer of the article1 might ,they might4 ,that they so often do not1 and that danger so frequently results from the neglect1 is the grievance and complaint of our contributor4--,,ed4 ,i4,s4 ,d4,n4 take the trouble personally to see that her stirrup is not out of order from rust1 and in no other way but one can it be so2 the other way is that if the groom ignorantly or carelessly adjusts the stirrup for use hind part before1 the inner stirrup cannot be released1 and the rider's foot1 in case of a fall1 will be helplessly fixed in the stirrup4 ,this eventuality1 however1 does not detract from the real value of the safety-stirrup1 for neglect and ignorance will entail direful consequences in all ways4 ,next to the safety-stirrup1 ,i quite believe that a plain steel stirrup of suitable size1 with side pieces at the bottom to take sharp pressure off the foot1 is the most suitable for ladies' use1 and ,i always condemn the small padded stirrup1 which is1 indeed1 a fruitful source of danger to lady riders4 ,with the rest of ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue's dissertation ,i cordially agree1 and believe it would be beneficial if both men and ladies practised riding without the aid of the stirrup2 and the same rule applies to and is generally practised by men1 as ,i saw a few days ago on a ,german barrack-ground1 where an awkward squad was being trained in that manner4 ,the art of putting a lady up is one that should be practised more than it is by horsemen2 my first attempt resulted in the lady slipping down again1 and on my hat1 which suffered even more than my self-esteem4 ,on one occasion in the ,crimea1 years ago1 ,i was riding with a lady and her husband1 the former dismounted at ,mrs4 ,seacole's for refreshment1 and on being put up again by her husband with more vigour than skill1 the poor lady was sent over her horse's back to the ground on the other side1 and being somewhat portly1 was shaken severely4 ,i fear many ladies have suffered in the same way from the awkwardness of their attendants1 but ,i have seen ladies so agile as to mount from the ground without assistance--rather a difficult feat1 and requiring much practice4 ,having trespassed so much on your space ,i must not proceed further now1 but shall be happy to air my notions again1 if agreeable to your readers and riders4 ,yours1 c4 ,,jermyn4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,my papers entitled ,ladies on ,horseback have called forth many letters4 ,some of these you have printed1 some have been forwarded to me from your office1 and many have been received at my own house4 ,i shall regard it as a favour if you will permit me to reply to a few of them through the medium of your paper1 as in answering one ,i shall answer many who have written upon the same subject4 ,j4 ,v4--,when the horse took head with me and leaped into the farm-yard 7as depicted by ,mr4 ,sturgess7 ,i had no way of getting out except by the passage and kitchen of the farm-house1 as the gates of the yard were locked1 and the owner of the place--who was away at the neighbouring town--had the key in his pocket4 ,,eques4--,the reason why ladies ride all sorts of horses is that comparatively few keep horses of their own1 and those who are without them and are fond of riding1 jump eagerly at the offer of a friend's mount1 whether it be suitable or otherwise4 ,a nice horse for a lady may be thus described3 ,height about #ae-c2 ,colour dark bay or brown1 well-set sloping shoulders1 good back1 arched loins1 firm and graceful neck1 small head and ears1 shapely clean-cut legs1 and good firm feet4 ,a horse of this description will be well up to #ac or #ad st4 ,for a heavy weight an animal should be selected with a short wide back1 powerful quarters1 big healthy hocks1 and stoutly-built fore-legs4 ,the average weight of ladies is about #ist4 ,summer costume and riding gear would weigh about equally1 but velvet or sealskin would outweigh a habit4 ,a lady seated upon a properly-made saddle1 if she has been well taught1 will never have her weight all on one side4 ,the reason why horses go short with the near hind leg is because ladies ride from the stirrup1 leaning their full weight upon it1 and galling the animal's back4 ,the stirrup is meant to assist1 not to support1 the rider4 ,old-fashioned side-saddles are all too heavy2 but a well-constructed modern saddle can scarcely be improved upon4 ,it is a mistake to ride in too light a saddle1 as it brings the weight of the body too near the horse's back4 ,that used by the ,empress of ,austria weighed #ab lbs41 which is about a correct standard4 ,,ladybird4--,nobody who has any regard for life and limb now rides through ,dublin4 ,all wise persons gave it up when pavement and tram-lines made the city what it is4 ,consequently the park is deserted1 and only a solitary horseman is seen in ,stephen's ,green4 ,,inquirer4--,the shoe should be made to fit the foot4 ,it is most cruel1 and is a fruitful source of lameness1 to pare the foot away to make it fit a ready-made shoe4 ,if you cannot trust your farrier1 change him4 ,this advice also applies to ,,james ,r41 but ,i do not undertake to answer questions respecting the treatment or management of the horse4 ,,mabel ,,florence ,,rayne4--,i had not forgotten nor overlooked the important uses of the spur4 ,you will find the subject treated in my papers upon hunting and hunting-costume4 ,i do not1 however1 at all approve of its use for beginners1 as such are certain1 through nervousness1 to press the left heel close to the horse's side1 and1 if furnished with a spur1 would cause him much needless pain and irritation1 besides endangering their own safety4 ,,robert ,,keating4--,best thanks for letter and papers4 ,g4 ,,elliot4--,for riding with a bit and bridoon1 place a rein between each finger of your left hand1 and hold them securely with your thumb1 reserving your right hand for your whip2 or take your reins in both hands1 and ride your horse upon the curb1 or snaffle1 according to his temperament4 ,for riding with a single rein1 place the near leather under your little finger and the off one between the first and second fingers1 which is as good a way as any2 but ,i have already said that there is no fixed rule for holding reins1 and a good rider will constantly change them about1 and move the bridle in her horse's mouth1 which prevents him hanging upon his bit4 ,,jane ,,carr4--,i scarcely know whether to regard your letter as a compliment or the reverse4 ,my labours have been totally unassisted2 nor has my experience of this world shown me that its occupants are sufficiently philanthropic to labour that another may reap the merit and the reward4 ,l4 ,k4--,the subject is not within my province4 ,mayhew's ,horse ,management1 published by ,allen ,co41 #ac1 ,waterloo ,place1 ,london1 is the best ,i can recommend4 ,,huntsman4--,it is for ladies ,i am writing4 ,,eleanor4--,thanks2 but if ,i adopted one half of the suggestions offered1 a strange result would ensue4 ,happily my papers went to press without anybody 7save the ,editor7 having had a glance at them4 ,he generously accepted them upon their merits2 but had ,i shown them to others ,i should either have altered something in every second line or have given offence to numerous well-meaning persons4 ,when ,i was a child ,i committed to memory the inimitable fable of ,the ,miller1 his ,son1 and his ,ass1 and have taken the moral of it as a guide through life4 ,,goodall4--,a short hunting-crop without a lash would do4 ,,equestrina4--,if a horse rears with me in a vicious manner ,i hit him between the ears1 but ,i do not by any means expect my readers to coincide in all my views1 and those who know a better plan can1 of course1 adopt it4 ,if an animal rears slightly ,i lean forward against his neck1 touch him with my heel1 and speak to him4 ,if he persists1 and ,i see any danger of his falling back1 ,i hit him between the ears with the butt-end of my whip1 not sufficiently heavily to madden him1 nor even to cause him the least pain1 but to occasion him to duck his head1 which he invariably does2 and if at that instant ,i hit him sharply with my heel1 he drops at once and lashes out behind4 ,allowing for a moment that such a mode of action may be open to objection1 is it not better 7seeing that it is frequently efficacious7 than sitting quietly and permitting one's-self to be fallen back upon1 without making any effort to avert the catastrophe8 ,my objection to the slipper-stirrup is founded on the knowledge that it encourages ladies to lean their weight upon it4 ,it feels so comfortable1 ,i heard a lady say1 so like a resting-board beneath my foot1 that ,i cannot help riding from it4 ,an iron stirrup with the foot well home is the proper thing to ride in2 and remember it is from the instep and not from the toes that you should rise4 ,the iron should meet the waist of the boot-sole1 and a long flat heel 7,i do not mean one of those atrocities known as a high one7 should be worn on the boot4 ,,jermyn4--,your letter almost answers itself4 ,the pad or pilch is apt to turn round1 for it is only one little girl in twenty who sits straight4 ,you judge my meaning rightly about the straight saddle1 but ,i opine that it is the stuffing which should be arranged to guard the backbone from pressure1 and that it is in no way necessary to raise the seat at the back4 ,i must again say1 for the third time1 that a plain ring-snaffle is the nicest for a lady's use1 and also maintain my opinion that few horses will go in it1 according to my ideas of going4 ,a horse who goes well in a ring-snaffle must have a perfect temper and a perfect mouth1 a combination as rare in the equine as in the human tribe4 ,for ordinary hunters and roadsters ,i do not recommend it1 simply because they will not go in such a bridle2 but ,i shall ever hold to my opinion that it is the nicest and the least puzzling for a beginner4 ,,katie4--,not worth denying4 ,it is one of those worthless untruths which ,i have long since learned to treat with contempt4 ,,liverpudlian4--,your suggestion is so good that ,i shall certainly adopt it4 ,nothing could be better adapted for riding in than a warm jersey1 buttoned in front4 ,being elastic it would allow full play for the arms and shoulders1 and would also display a good figure to advantage4 ,if you1 or some other1 would only get up a sufficient amount of courage to turn a deaf ear to the hateful and oft-recurring ,what will be said8 we might have many useful and elegant innovations of which at present we know nothing4 ,,young ,,wife4--,there can be no impropriety in what you say4 ,honi soit qui mal y pense8 ,so long as you have a good conscience and your husband's approval you need care little for what the world says4 ,x4 ,y4 ,z41 ,,dashaway1 and ,,countryman4--,i cannot reply to your letters4 ,thanking you1 ,sir1 for your kindness in granting me so much of your valuable space1 ,i am1 c4 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 ,october #be4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,the recently-invented lady's spur1 mentioned in your last issue by ,mabel ,florence ,kayne1 was patented towards the close of the last century1 and illustrations of it1 and of other spurs on the same principle1 can be seen at the ,patent ,office4 ,i quite concur in the recommendation that a lady should always wear a spur1 and it will be seen from the last article by ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue that a spur forms part of her hunting equipment2 but ,i strongly advise ladies to wear a spur with a rowel having only five points1 which should be long and sharp4 ,the spur with one point and a spring sheath is commonly sold by saddlers for ladies' use1 but is liable to break or get out of order1 and is always discarded in favour of the one with a five-pointed rowel by ladies who have tried the latter4 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue is doing good service to ladies by protesting against the stirrups facetiously so-called safety4 ,i always advise a lady to use a perfectly plain steel stirrup1 but a tolerably heavy one4 ,why cannot the stirrup be attached to a lady's saddle in the same manner as to a gentleman's8 ,then1 in case of accident1 the stirrup and leather would come away together4 ,an excellent bit for a lady's horse is a curb-bit1 suspended in the horse's mouth by two large rings1 to which the snaffle-reins are also attached4 ,this bit is very light or very severe1 at the rider's wish4 ,i am1 c4 ,,southern ,,cross4 ,october #bf1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,continuing my remarks on this subject1 ,i am bound to say that your contributor gives sufficient answer to the question of the safety-stirrup in explaining that the objection is removed providing the inner stirrup is large enough for the foot to be easily extricated2 the stirrup being made in three different sizes1 this is a matter easily adjusted4 ,the shoe-stirrup referred to by ,equestrina was in use by ladies for many years1 and in point of safety ,i think no objection can be raised to it2 the same shape of stirrup is much affected by men in ,south ,america4 ,the instructions in ,part ,second of ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue's writings are very admirable1 except that ,i do not see the utility of a lady's striking a rearing horse between the ears1 with the few ounces of whip usually carried4 ,i have known men do so with a loaded whip1 and knocking a horse down to cure him of this vice1 but it would be scarcely advisable for a lady to try this4 ,i am rather surprised to see it stated as a fact that both rearing and plunging maybe entirely prevented by using the so-called anti-rearing bit martingale4 ,it certainly may prevent rearing on the first attempt if the horse's head is kept down tightly by this martingale attached to the breastplate1 but as the latter is seldom worn except for hunting1 it cannot be intended to recommend it for that purpose1 for it would infallibly follow that the fixed martingale would bring both horse and rider to grief at the very first fence they attempted to clear1 and if the horse had sufficient liberty of action to jump freely1 the martingale would be no obstruction to his rearing4 ,i know from my own experience that a horse can be knocked down by a blow on the head4 ,i was once doing a little private mounted practice at sword exercise1 preparatory to a prize competition1 and grasping my sword with thick gloves on1 the weapon somehow turned in my hand1 caught my mare below the ear on the bridle-hand1 and knocked her completely off her legs1 to our mutual amazement1 though no great harm was done4 ,i do not see what analogy there can be between the powerful ,chifney bit and a rearing martingale2 the effect of the latter may be secured by attaching a split martingale1 with leather or spring billets1 to the mouth-rings of any bit in use1 snaffle or ,pelham2 but ,i believe that a horse can1 if determined1 rear all the same1 and it certainly would not prevent plunging or bucking4 ,for a restive or jibbing horse in saddle ,i have always found a short running martingale very useful2 the rider should shorten and lower the right rein well down the horse's shoulder1 apply the right leg and spur sharply1 and turn the horse round like a teetotum until he is dizzy1 then give him both spurs when his head is in the right direction4 ,this will set him going before he knows where he is1 and is a practice ,i have found very efficacious1 but not easily applicable by ladies4 ,on the subject of bits1 my own favourite is the ,hanoverian ,pelham2 it will generally hold the strongest puller1 and1 with a light hand1 ,i have never met a horse that would not face it4 ,for show or park riding there is none better2 it is1 however1 not suited to those who trust to the bridle-reins for their balance in the saddle4 ,eques inquires what is the average weight of ladies8 ,this is a difficult query1 but as ladies ride at all weights between six and eleven stone1 with a margin each way1 ,i should suppose the average would be about #h-a_/b stone1 exclusive of saddle1 c4 ,a lady who is an indifferent rider would throw more weight on one side than the other1 one cause of so many sore backs from side-saddles2 but a thoroughly good horsewoman would sit with as level a balance as a man4 ,the weight of good modern side-saddles is much reduced1 but they cannot well be made under #ad lb41 with furniture1 and are usually considerably more4 ,if the ,empress of ,austria uses a saddle of #h lb4 only 7as some have averred71 she must ride on a man's steeplechase-saddle1 which perhaps would not be a difficult performance for a lady who is said to be in the habit of driving four-in-hand4 ,i am much impressed by the recital of your contributor's adventures and hair-breadth escapes on the saddle1 particularly on the occasion she refers to when invited by a friend to ride the big bay horse4 ,if the friend was a gentleman1 ,i must repeat the opinion ,i heard expressed by a lady when reading the article--that any man who would wilfully expose a woman to risk her life on such a brute behaved disgracefully4 ,there is no object in creation to my mind more attractive than a graceful woman controlling with ease a fine and well-trained horse2 but no one with due respect for the sex would wish to see her taking the place of a rough rider4 ,yours1 c4 ,,jermyn4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,although ,i care nothing for anything that may be said about myself1 ,i am ever loyal to my friends1 and it seems to me hard that one of the truest of them should be spoken of as having behaved disgracefully by a writer who1 with more impetuosity than judgment1 jumps at conclusions without waiting to hear the truth4 ,when ,i was riding homeward after the leap into the farm-yard1 ,i met the owner of the horse upon the road1 driving out with a friend4 ,the moment he heard what had occurred he took me off the animal1 changed my saddle to the very quiet horse he was driving1 and actually1 after nearly an hour's delay1 succeeded in putting the harness upon the big bay1 and1 having done so1 drove him home regardless of his own safety1 or rather of his danger1 which was imminent4 ,i do not think there are many men at his time of life1 and in his delicate state of health1 who would have done the same thing rather than chance a second runaway4 ,he had no reason to suppose that any such thing would1 in the first instance1 have happened1 and ,i believe it was attributable to the fact that the horse had been ridden a day or two previously by a very wild rider1 who had spoilt his mouth and manners1 and who subsequently apologised to me for having been the cause of what occurred4 ,i might have mentioned all this before1 and certainly should have done so had ,i thought that such necessity should have arisen4 ,i would remind ,jermyn that my observations respecting the martingale were confined to my papers on road-riding1 not on hunting1 and would also thank him1 with my best obeisance1 for calling me a rough-rider4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 ,october #ca1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i must1 in justice to myself1 ask you to be so kind as to grant me space in your influential journal to reply to the very serious charge ,jermyn brought against me in your issue of the #cjth of the past month4 ,i am the friend who asked ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue to ride the big bay1 and yet ,i believe that nobody in all the world has a higher esteem for that lady1 nor a truer regard for her safety than ,i have4 ,indeed there are few men in ,ireland 7if one7 worth being called the name1 who would not willingly lay down their own lives rather than imperil the life of one so universally beloved4 ,the horse up to the day of the runaway had been perfectly quiet and most easily managed4 ,he carried me two seasons to hounds1 never making a mistake nor pulling in the least4 ,not being able to ride1 having shortly before met with a very serious accident1 ,i lent the big bay to a hard-riding young officer for a day's hunting4 ,he unfortunately must have made too free use of his long-necked spurs1 and1 totally unknown to me1 ruffled the horse's temper2 the animal remembering the treatment he received1 and finding but a feather on his back1 when excited by the music of the hounds1 overpowered his rider2 but1 thank ,heaven1 no serious accident occurred4 ,i was unutterably shocked and distressed on hearing of the occurrence1 and may state that on the day in question ,i was driving in my dog-cart1 accompanied by a gentleman 7late an officer in ,her ,majesty's service7 who can vouch for the truth of my statement1 when ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue came up to me and told me of her very narrow escape4 ,i did not hesitate an instant to say1 ,i will take out the horse ,i am driving4 ,you know him to be a perfect mount1 and ,i will put 'the big bay' in my trap4 ,the lady did not wish me to do so1 knowing the risk ,i ran in putting a horse in harness that had never been in such before4 ,i at last succeeded in prevailing on her not to lose the day's sport1 changed the saddle with great difficulty1 and attached the big bay to my dog-cart2 after a few plunges and an endeavour to get away1 he settled down1 and has since gone grandly4 ,my friend1 though a very bold man1 would not get in with me for some time4 ,i hope after this explanation your correspondent will be sufficiently generous to allow that ,i did all in my power to insure the safety of a most precious life4 ,with regard to the term rough-rider1 as applied by ,jermyn to ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue1 ,i feel assured if he knew the lady he would not for worlds have used such an expression4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,your most obedient servant1 ,,one ,,who ,,has ,,ridden ,,to ,,hounds ,,for ,,over ,,sixty ,,years4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i should by no means recommend a young lady to wear a spur when learning in a riding-school1 but from my own experience ,i strongly advise all girls beginning to ride on the road never to mount their steeds without a sharp spur on their left boot4 ,the second time ,i went out riding1 when ,i was fourteen1 my cob1 startled by some noise1 suddenly began to rear and pitch vigorously4 ,i applied my whip sharply across his flank1 but without effect4 ,i then gave him a series of sharp pricks with my spur1 which completely subdued him4 ,had ,i been without a spur ,i should probably have been thrown and severely injured4 ,i should certainly prefer a spur with a rowel as ,southern ,cross recommends1 but would it not be apt to tear the habit8 ,i am1 c4 ,,mabel ,,florence ,,rayne4 ,the ,firs1 ,cheltenham1 ,november #a1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,a correspondent in your last number advises ladies to use a rowel spur1 with five prongs1 long and sharp1 so1 as a friend of horses1 ,i am inclined to write an objection to their taking this advice4 ,in the first place1 from the nature of a lady's seat1 her armed heel would often unintentionally irritate and annoy the horse2 and in the second place many would probably use this instrument of torture too severely1 and therefore cruelly4 ,a rowel spur1 with five long and sharp prongs--in fact1 a jockey's spur--is a much more severe instrument than is required for ordinary riding1 either by man or woman1 and the advantage of the ladies' bore spur is1 that it can only be applied when intended1 and then is quite sufficiently severe4 ,i have no objection to ladies1 who are good horsewomen1 wearing a spur1 and using it1 too1 as severely as necessary1 but ,i have great objections to any unnecessary pain or annoyance being given to my friends1 the horses4 ,another lady correspondent of yours says that a spur is quite indispensable for hunting4 ,if she means that it should always be worn in case it is required1 ,i agree2 but ,i have ridden a courageous high-tempered horse for years with hounds without ever using the spur4 ,i am1 c4 ,,fair ,,play4 ,glasgow1 #ast ,november #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,as the subject of spurs and other riding equipment for ladies seems at the present time to occupy and interest many of your fair readers1 permit me1 on behalf of my sisters1 who are horsewomen of some experience1 both at home and in the colonies1 and who have practically tried most known riding-costumes1 to recommend1 through the medium of your columns1 the following as a comfortable and serviceable riding-dress for a lady1 for long country rides1 picnics1 c42 of course not for the ,park1 or a lawn meet4 ,habit--a short1 strong hunting-skirt1 short enough to walk in with comfort1 with jacket of same cloth as skirt1 made loose enough to admit of a jersey being worn under it if required2 a wide leather belt for the waist1 fastening with a buckle4 ,this belt will be found a great comfort and support when on horseback for many hours4 ,hat of soft felt1 or a melon-shaped hat4 ,pantaloons of chamois leather1 buttoning close at the ankles4 ,hussar or ,wellington boots1 reaching to about four inches of the knee1 to be worn over the pantaloons1 made of ,peel leather with moderate-sized heels1 tipped with brass1 and soles strong but not thick4 ,a leather stud should be sewn on the left boot1 about #b-a_/b inches above the heel1 on which stud the spur should rest1 and thus be kept in its place without tight buckling4 ,the spur found to be the most useful after the trial of many is a rowel spur of plated steel1 about two inches to two and-a-half inches long1 strong and light1 hunting shape1 and fastened with a strap and buckle1 the foot-strap of plated steel chain4 ,this chain foot-strap looks neater than a leather one1 and does not become cut or worn out when on foot on rough or rocky ground4 ,the rowel pin is a screw pin2 thus the rowel can be changed at pleasure1 and a sharp or a blunt one fitted as is required by the horse one rides4 ,the spur ,i mention can be obtained of ,messrs4 ,maxwell ,co41 ,piccadilly1 ,london2 or of ,mr4 ,thompson1 saddler1 ,dawson street1 ,dublin4 ,some ladies affect two spurs--one1 the right1 being fitted with a blank rowel2 this is1 of course1 for appearance sake when dismounted4 ,i have not often seen two spurs worn4 ,i am not alluding to ,miss ,bird's riding-costume1 as described in her books1 ,life in the ,sandwich ,islands and ,the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,she rode a la cavaliere1 in a ,mexican saddle1 and wearing big rowel ,mexican spurs1 and appears from her account to have preferred this style of riding to the modern style and side-saddle4 ,some years ago ,i saw a photograph of the ,queen of ,naples 7,i think in #ahfj71 representing the queen mounted a la cavaliere1 wearing a high felt hat1 a long white cloak1 patent-leather jack-boots1 and gilt spurs4 ,can any of your readers inform me if this style of riding for ladies is a custom of ,southern ,italy as well as ,mexico and the ,sandwich ,islands8 ,i am1 c4 ,,jack ,,spur4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i cannot regret that my letter has given the authoress of this work1 and also the owner of the big bay horse1 an opportunity of explaining the circumstances attending her mount on that puissant but headstrong animal1 and of repudiating the erroneous construction put upon it1 as probably the same idea may have occurred to many other readers of the anecdote1 who may not have cared to express their sentiments4 ,i must say1 however1 that ,i am very sorry if my remarks occasioned pain to either of your correspondents4 ,the explanation given shows clearly that no blame was really attributable to the gentleman who offered the mount1 and ,i can well believe he never dreamt of danger with the horse in such skilful hands4 ,no one would doubt the sincerity of the statement given1 that the horse was put in harness for the first time and driven away1 after such an experience of his temper2 but it speaks more highly for the courage than discretion of his owner1 and ,i can well understand the friend's hesitation to share the driving-seat1 for there are few things more trying to the nerves than to sit behind a determined bolter4 ,perhaps ,i write feelingly1 having been in that predicament myself three years ago1 resulting in a fractured hip and permanent lameness4 ,i will most certainly admit that the chivalrous gentleman did all1 and more than was necessary1 to avert further peril to the lady who had so narrow an escape4 ,as for the obnoxious term rough rider1 to which exception is taken1 it was intended to be used generally and not individually2 if it has unfortunately happened that ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 whom ,i have never had the pleasure of seeing1 took it in a personal sense1 ,i most sincerely beg her forgiveness1 and will ask her rather to accept1 as applicable to herself1 the earlier remarks about ladies on horseback at the conclusion of my letter1 and the assurance of my belief that such a gentlewoman as she is described could never be a rough rider in any way4 ,i am1 c4 ,,jermyn4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,the spur with a five-pointed rowel was strongly recommended for ladies' use many years ago in the ,queen1 and is worn by many3 it does not tear the habit1 and is not more severe than the spring-sheath spur with a point of the same length1 as only one point of the rowel can prick the horse at a time2 indeed1 it is not so severe1 as it can be applied with a very slight touch1 which generally is all that is required1 whilst the spring-sheath spur must be applied with sufficient force to overcome the resistance of the spring1 with the result that the horse is often more sharply pricked than the rider intends4 ,the points of a lady's spur should be long enough to be effective if the skirt of the habit intervenes1 as1 with any arrangement1 it sometimes will do1 when1 if the points are too short1 the horse does not feel it4 ,i dissent from the statement of ,fairplay that1 from the nature of a lady's seat1 her armed heel would often unintentionally irritate and annoy her horse4 ,if applied to a clumsy rider the statement is accurate1 but a lady who is a moderately good rider has no difficulty in keeping her foot in the proper position1 and a lady's left foot should be in the same position as a man's2 whilst1 as a lady has the third crutch to steady her left leg1 she has less excuse than a man would have for the unintentional use of the spur2 but this evil carries its own antidote1 for the lady would soon perceive the result of the irritation1 and become more careful4 ,the best way to cure a boy of turning out his toes and holding on with his heels is to give him a pair of long-necked spurs1 and then put him on a fidgetty horse2 a few minutes' experience teaches him more than a month of lecturing4 ,i never knew of a mishap occurring to a lady through accidentally spurring her horse1 but ,i have known many instances of ladies being put to great inconvenience and annoyance through not wearing a spur1 and ,i do not understand why a lady should be more likely than a man to use it with undue severity4 ,that it is an advantage to a lady is clearly shown by the fact that a lady who once tries one always continues its use4 ,fairplay is also mistaken about the spring-sheath spur1 for it is as readily applied as any other1 though more force is required1 which is objectionable1 and especially so in park riding1 when the spring of the horse to an unintentionally sharp application betrays the action of the rider4 ,i claim to be as good a friend of horses as ,fairplay1 but ,i have some regard for the rider as well as for the horse1 and ,i consider that1 whilst we are justified in riding horses1 we are justified in using such reasonable aids as we find most satisfactory to ourselves2 and ,i have no sympathy with anyone who objects to a lady availing herself of the convenience and assistance so readily supplied by a judiciously-used spur1 which every horseman knows cannot1 in very many cases1 be obtained by any other means1 and which he never hesitates to avail himself of4 ,in these days of locomotion a lady loses a great deal of the pleasures of travelling1 and of the opportunities of seeing the countries she may visit1 unless she can and will ride such horses as she may meet with in those countries2 and even in the rural districts of ,england there is many an old nag of the ,proputty ,proputty type1 which 7though not possessed of the special points of a lady's horse--,oh6 such a lovely mane and tail7 will carry a lady tolerably well if he feels the spur occasionally4 ,if ,mabel ,florence ,rayne tries the rowel spur and the bit ,i mentioned in my former letter1 ,i am sure she will be satisfied with them1 and perhaps she will write her opinion for the benefit of others4 ,the excellent and sensible letters of ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue will probably convince people that a horse1 when he has a lady on his back1 is very much the same kind of animal1 and requires very much the same kind of management1 as when he is ridden by a man4 ,if ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue can obtain this result1 she will sweep away many of the peculiar prejudices and ideas that now prevail as to all matters appertaining to ladies on horseback4 ,i am1 c4 ,,southern ,,cross4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,in the article under the above-mentioned heading1 published in your issue of the #fth ,november1 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue recommends that horses' tails should not be docked4 ,dealers1 when offering horses for sale1 do not usually volunteer any information as to whether the horses have been docked4 ,i wish1 therefore1 to inform any intending purchasers who may not know how to ascertain whether a horse has been docked1 and who may wish to obtain some which have not been disfigured in this manner1 that if the dock 7that is1 the portion of the tail which consists of bones and muscles1 c47 is in its natural state1 the hair grows thickly at the end or tip of it1 and there is no bare space there2 but if it has been shortened by a portion of it being cut off 7or docked71 there is at the end or tip of it a circular space of about an inch in diameter1 entirely bare of hair4 ,when a horse has been docked1 the hair of the tail scarcely grows after it has reached to within six or seven inches above the hocks4 ,the hocks of a large horse are about twenty-five inches above the ground4 ,it is a general custom with ,london dealers to cut the hair of the tail very short before offering a horse for sale1 so that it does not come down lower than to a distance of about nine inches above the hocks4 ,the buyer cannot then tell to what length the tail is likely to grow4 ,if customers would refuse to buy horses with the hair of the tail cut short1 perhaps the practice in question would be discontinued by the dealers4 ,i am1 ,sir1 c4 ,x4 ,y4 ,z4 ,london1 ,november #aj1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,in your paper of last week ,i notice a letter on the advisability of ladies on horseback adopting the cross-saddle in place of the side1 that is to say1 in plain ,english1 ride astride4 ,this ,i have done abroad when far beyond conventional bondage1 and it is incomparably better4 ,your correspondent points out the evils resulting from the one-sided twisted seat1 which a lady now has1 and also1 in the same paper1 the authoress of ,ladies on ,horseback says how impossible it is with only one foot in the stirrup to rise comfortably to a high trotter4 ,now ,i should never have dared to name such a change had it not been thus mooted4 ,society will shriek out and say1 ,woman would be indeed out of place thus4 ,why8 ,i am sure with a proper dress there is nothing to hurt the extremely proper feelings of the most modest4 ,all who have hunted know that the very short skirted habits at times display1 well1 say the leg of the fair equestrienne most liberally4 ,now the dress for the cross-horse style is much the same as a bathing suit1 loose ,zouave drawers drawn close below the knee1 and fastened tightly over the boot at the ankle2 a loose tunic1 long enough to come almost to the knee when mounted1 lightly belted at the waist1 a cape falling over the shoulders1 not quite to the elbows4 ,this is my attire when free to ride in the only really comfortable way1 a foot in each stirrup4 ,oh1 no woman would ever be twisted and packed on to a side saddle again if she could help it1 after once enjoying the ease and freedom1 as well as complete control of her horse which a man's seat gives4 ,so far as exhibitions of limbs go1 it is much more delicate1 and there is nothing to offend the most sensitive lady in this style4 ,only it is not fashionable4 ,when shall we cease to prostrate ourselves before that ,juggernaut of fashion8 ,for all paces and in every instance it is better1 and the risk of accidents is reduced at least one half4 ,it is a wonderful ease in long rides to vary the stirrup length4 ,the military1 almost straight-leg1 trot1 ,i think the easiest1 but1 on the other hand1 some of the best riders ,i have ever seen abroad ride with a very short stirrup2 it is a matter of habit and custom4 ,but if the fashion were once introduced here1 ,i know it would prove a priceless boon to ladies who love riding4 ,let some lady who has the opportunity once try it in her own private grounds 7at first7 or in some quiet1 out-of-the-way country lane or moorland1 and she will be surprised4 ,it is a new existence on horseback1 and nothing indelicate about it1 clad as ,i have named4 ,oh1 what a difference it does make4 ,it is twenty-three years now since ,i first took the idea from a book published by a lady1 entitled1 ,unprotected ,females in ,norway1 and whenever ,i can1 ,i always ride so1 of course abroad or even in the far north of ,scotland4 ,what a sensation in the ,row would a party of ladies make thus mounted6 ,again1 it is much easier for the horse1 having your weight fairly distributed1 not all perched on one side4 ,your seat is much firmer2 leaping is1 oh1 so easy2 in fact1 your power seems doubled in every way4 ,in case of conflict with your horse1 you feel a veritable centaur compared with the side seat1 where you have no grip1 only the aid of the saddle1 but with the aid of your own knees and a foot on each side of the horse ,i think ,i could not be thrown4 ,oh1 ,i wish it could be initiated1 dear ,mr4 ,editor4 ,do use your influence in this direction4 ,and it really looks well when the dress is well-made and tasty1 and you feel so very free and at ease1 can turn about any way1 not pinned on to your horse1 or rather on to your saddle1 as ladies are4 ,i could give full directions to make an outfit for going abroad in this style2 you would smile at my saddle ,i know1 but it is so comfortable4 ,i can hardly bear to ride on an orthodox one now4 ,that is the worst of it4 ,i have been mounted on mules in this manner in ,honduras1 and ridden immense distances without being stiff or tired unduly4 ,some of these are the animals to try your mettle and seat1 and ,i was only once thrown1 owing to a stirrup-leather breaking4 ,then a lady is able to use spurs as easily as possible1 no trouble about habit skirts tearing or getting in the way of the spur4 ,with a sharp spur on each foot you can do anything with your horse1 so very different from the wretched box spurs1 eternally entangled in your habit or out of order4 ,i do wish an association could be formed to carry out the idea2 one or two could not do it1 it must be simultaneous4 ,for little girls it would be simply invaluable as an improvement on the present style1 which really does cause distortion of the spine and a one-sided carriage when girls ride much4 ,do please ventilate this question1 and oblige very much1 ,yours1 c4 ,,hersilie4 ,p4,s4--,i have taken your paper ever since ,october #bnd1 when ,i first saw ,ladies on ,horseback in it1 and have been much pleased with it1 and also much amused with the correspondence thereon1 but ,i never expected to see ladies' change of seat advocated1 and am so glad to-day to find that it is4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,permit me to state that the object in having the screw rowel-pin in the spur1 recommended by me for the use of ladies in your number of ,november #acth1 is in order to enable the wearers to use a mild or a severe rowel1 according to the requirements of the horses they ride4 ,i am very much against sharp spurs for ladies 7or gentlemen either71 unless they are absolutely required2 but from some experience1 both at home and abroad1 ,i am quite convinced that the wearing of a spur should be the rule and not the exception4 ,if the rowel is moderately sharp only1 no cruelty can arise1 less ,i maintain than in the use of a whip4 ,i strongly object to the use of the sheath spur because of its severity2 it must be applied with a kick to be of any use1 and the effect is usually much more punishing than there is any necessity for4 ,if ladies will use rowel spurs with moderately sharp rowels1 such as are usual in gentlemen's park spurs1 they will find that they are in possession of a very useful aid 7certainly not a cruel one71 and if fitted on a neat patent leather hussar or ,wellington boot1 a very ornamental one as well4 ,i am1 c4 ,,jack ,,spur4 ,december1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,the correspondence on ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue's articles has contained many remarks on ladies' spurs1 but ,i have noticed scarcely any reference to one point which ,i think is worth consideration--namely1 the mode of fastening4 ,i think ladies would find it an advantage to wear what are known as spring or box spurs1 instead of those fastening with the usual straps1 or strap and chain4 ,i have never seen a lady's spur of this description1 but possibly they are made--if not1 they easily could be4 ,they are much the most easy to attach or remove1 and there is no chance of a strap being cut in walking or otherwise1 or of an over-tight buckle hurting the foot4 ,their principal advantage1 however1 is not one of mere convenience1 but of safety2 the absence of strap and buckle removes one element in a great danger--that of the foot sticking in the stirrup in a fall4 ,captain ,whyte-,melville speaks from observation of the risk of the buckle catching in the angle of the stirrup-iron1 and says he has never seen a spurless boot so entangled4 ,he is arguing against the wearing of spurs at all2 but the risk is avoided if box spurs be worn4 ,since ,i became convinced that the strap and buckle were a quite possible1 though perhaps unlikely1 source of danger1 ,i have altogether discarded them1 and have felt my feet more free in the stirrups in consequence4 ,box spurs are certainly not fashionable in the hunting-field1 and ,i have often seen people looking askance at them2 ,i suppose a particular man misses the finish that the strap gives to the boot4 ,but ,i don't think that matters much1 and to ladies it would not matter at all1 as the difference could very seldom be detected4 ,in getting spurs or boxes1 ,i find it convenient to adhere always to the regulation cavalry size1 because then one's old spurs fit one's new boots1 and vice versa4 ,it would be well to have a uniform standard for ladies' spurs also4 ,i have not ventured to say anything on the subject of spurs generally--my own opinion is that legitimate occasion for their use is excessively rare--and ,i dare say my suggestion may seem very trivial4 ,but ,i do not think any precaution is trivial which lessens1 however slightly1 the risk of that most disagreeable and dangerous of accidents--getting hung up4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,your obedient servant1 ,,oxonian4 ,ball4 ,col41 ,oxon41 ,december1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i cannot but feel flattered that my ,ladies on ,horseback papers should have called forth so large a correspondence4 ,i have read every letter most carefully1 and on perusing that of ,hersilie1 which appeared in last week's issue1 it struck me1 from two of her observations1 that persons might suppose ,i had said something to advocate the style of riding of which she approves4 ,permit me to say1 emphatically1 that ,i have never done so1 and that ,i fervently hope1 in the interests of my sex1 that such a practice may never be introduced4 ,modesty is1 in my opinion1 a woman's most exquisite attribute2 once this1 or the semblance of it1 is lost1 her fairest charm is gone4 ,nothing could be more ungraceful or more unwomanly than for women to ride like men2 and for short women or little girls1 it would be most objectionable4 ,i maintain that a lady who knows how to sit has a far safer and surer seat on a side-saddle than a man can ever have1 and that her grip of the pommels affords her infinitely greater security than a man's grip of the knees4 ,hersilie is correct in saying that short-skirted hunting-habits frequently ride up1 but she might just as well say that hunting-hats frequently fall off1 and that ladies' back hair frequently comes down--giving these facts as a reason for discarding head-gear1 whether natural or artificial4 ,as a rule1 nothing that is properly made and properly adjusted ever comes to grief4 ,it is by going to cheap and incompetent habit-makers1 neglecting to stitch elastics to their hats1 and plaiting the hair too loosely 7being also too sparing of hair-pins71 that ladies are inconvenienced and made to blush4 ,two yards wide round the hem is ample for a hunting-habit1 which should fit like a glove about the hips4 ,first-class tailors always have a model horse1 upon which they mount their lady customers1 and thus secure the right position for the slope at the knee1 upon which so much of the set of the skirt depends4 ,a well-dressed woman1 sitting properly upon a well-constructed saddle1 cannot1 in my opinion1 be improved upon for style and comfort1 and ,i hope it will be long indeed before ladies strive to follow in any way the customs or callings of the sterner sex4 ,i may add that one of the chief recommendations of a box spur is that it does not get out of order1 nor can it possibly become entangled1 unless the habit-skirt be one of those which some ladies still persist in wearing--nearly twice too long1 and quite three times too wide4 ,i earnestly hope ,hersilie will take these observations in good part4 ,i make them in a perfectly friendly spirit4 ,i feel kindly towards all ladies1 especially those who love horses2 and so ,i offer ,hersilie a warm shake-hands1 and hope she will fight me as much as ever she likes--in a friendly way1 of course6 ,now1 a word to ,jack ,spur4 ,i think he is under a mistake in averring that there is any severity in the sheath spur4 ,he says it must be applied with a kick4 ,as ,i always ride with one1 and never with any other description1 ,i must entirely differ from him in this opinion4 ,a slight pressure is alone necessary4 ,no gentlewoman would be guilty of kicking her horse4 ,i strongly object to rowels1 as ,i hold to the belief that almost anybody--except a really first-class equestrienne--would be likely to hurt or worry the horse in an unnecessary manner4 ,strange to say1 ,i had only got thus far in my letter when the post brought me a communication from ,stirling1 signed ,reform1 begging of me to advocate ladies riding upon the cross-saddle4 ,were it not that the writer says so many nice1 kind things of myself 7for which ,i beg to thank her7 ,i should be really angry at the tremendous display of zeal thus wasted upon so unworthy a subject4 ,it is true that a lady's seat on horseback prevents her pressing her horse up to his bridle as a man can1 unless--but there is the unless--she knows how to do it4 ,a good stout hunting-crop1 properly used1 will admirably fulfil the duties of the second leg2 but in all my experience1 and it is a pretty wide one1 ,i have never seen more than two lady riders who had any idea of making a horse gallop or sending him up to his bit4 ,i do not mean riding his head off--we unfortunately see too much of that2 but pressing him up to his work1 and riding him with firm1 accomplished hands1 such as are only to be obtained by good teaching1 long and constant practice1 and real love of the art4 ,to give some idea of the hazy notion which most persons have about riding1 a lady who came to call upon me in ,london1 and who certainly meant to be most kind and polite1 said1 as we sat at our afternoon tea1 ,i am looking at your hands2 how well-developed they are1 from pulling your horses1 ,i suppose6 ,she thought ,i was offended when ,i told her that my riding gloves were ,no4 #f1 and that ,i never pulled my horses2 but ,i am not captious1 nor would it be possible to take offence with one who so little intended to cause it4 ,the offer which ,i made at the conclusion of my ,ladies on ,horseback1 to answer private inquiries1 has led to such a host of letters that1 although ,i regularly devote one hour every morning to the task of replying to each in turn1 ,i find it impossible to keep pace with the work4 ,will you1 therefore1 sir1 with the kindness extended to me upon a former occasion1 suffer me to answer a few of my correspondents through the medium of your columns4 ,,richard ,r4--,one measure three times daily1 with a good double-handful of ,indian corn mixed through it4 ,,captain ,,swordarm4--,the oats will require two waters4 ,the grains should swell and separate1 like rice boiled for curries4 ,,evelyn ,,harkess4--,your parcel has not reached me4 ,my tailor will endeavour to please you4 ,,jane ,v4--,a very cruel practice4 ,,reform4--,you will see that ,i have acknowledged your letter4 ,judging by the postmark it should have come to hand three days ago1 but you gave the wrong address1 and it went on a seeking expedition4 ,dublin will at any time find me4 ,this is also for ,quilp1 ,b4 ,max1 and ,violet ,grey4 ,,ella4--,your horse is evidently a rough trotter1 and can never be pleasant to ride4 ,try to exchange or sell him4 ,,mary ,,perplexed4--,the pommels of your saddle are most likely too far apart2 that is1 the leaping head is placed too low4 ,if you cannot change it1 ride with a longer stirrup-leather4 ,i have been lately shown the preparation for an improved side-saddle1 by ,messrs4 ,f4 ,v4 ,nicholls ,co41 of #b ,jermyn ,street1 comprising a patented arrangement for the third crutch or leaping-head4 ,i think that this will be a great boon to those ladies who1 like myself1 have suffered inconvenience and accident from the leaping-head being a fixture1 and not in the position required to afford a proper degree of support1 and at the same time to admit of the stirrup-leather being used of correct length for an easy1 secure1 and graceful seat4 ,the improvement of the new saddle consists in a sliding socket or apparatus1 by which the leaping-head can be moved freely backward or forward to any position1 and instantly fixed firmly by the rider herself1 thus enabling a lady to alter at any time the length of her stirrup1 and yet gain every requisite support from the third crutch4 ,another little innovation by the same experienced saddlers in riding bridles1 an adaptation of my favourite double-ring snaffle4 ,the loose rings of the snaffle have some extra loops1 appended to which is a short noseband1 acted upon by one rein1 giving a powerful effect in stopping a runaway horse1 whilst the use of the other rein singly has the pleasant and easy nature of the ordinary snaffle-bridle4 ,the principle of this bridle1 which is called the improved ,newmarket snaffle is1 of course1 equally applicable to the use of persons of either sex4 ,,giles4--,have the shoe taken off and give him rest4 ,,ursa ,,major4--,there is no real cure for ringbone4 ,do not waste your money4 ,,claude1 ,,emma ,,vane1 ,n4 ,,parkes1 ,,henry ,b41 ,,rhoda1 ,,nellie ,k41 and thirty-one others1 write to me for--photographs6 ,i am sorry that for lack of gold ,i cannot supply a kindly public with my pictures1 and ,i am not vain enough to state publicly where they may be had4 ,,nimrod4--,pleader was purchased from me last week by the ,earl of ,eglinton4 ,it will1 therefore1 be unnecessary for me to reply to any further inquiries respecting him4 ,i named his price and made no change1 nor was ,i asked to do so4 ,,cropper4--,you were evidently sitting loosely1 and thus suffered for your carelessness4 ,you will not be caught napping the next time4 ,,anxious1 ,,martha1 and a host of others have asked me a very familiar question1 ,how ,i learned to ride8 ,i have hitherto avoided answering1 rather than introduce a name whose owner did not wish me to do so4 ,but ,i think ,i may hope to win his pardon4 ,most1 if not all1 my skill in the saddle is mainly due to the kind and untiring patience of my dear old friend and teacher1 ,mr4 ,allan ,mc,donogh1 who--despite his threescore years and ten--was1 up to the time of his lamentable accident1 ever ready to act as my pilot and instructor4 ,,enquirer4--,ride a steady horse1 and your nerve will come back again4 ,mine did1 after a much more terrible mischance4 ,,corsican ,,brother4--,it is not true4 ,,critic4--,you only discovered one mistake1 but there are really three in my story1 ,in ,search of a ,wonder1 which appeared in the ,christmas ,number of this journal4 ,in place of hustled me out of a sort of enclosure1 read to a sort of enclosure4 ,also1 suddenness requires two n's1 and carrattella is the correct way to spell a word which signifies a small cart or rough carriage peculiar to the ,piedmontese4 ,these are all printer's errors1 and should have been corrected by me1 but ,i revised my proof in a crowded coffee-room of a ,london hotel1 with at least a dozen persons talking to me as ,i did so1 and thus1 being also pressed for time1 a few mistakes escaped my notice4 ,to you1 sir1 and to all my friends1 best wishes for the ,new ,year1 and many grateful thanks for more kindness than ,i can deem myself worthy of4 ,yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 ,dublin1 ,december #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,in case no one more able than myself answers ,hersilie's letter in this week's number of your valuable paper1 will you allow me1 in the name of many lady riders who can use the side-saddle1 to write and protest against the idea cropping up of our riding like men8 ,i cannot help feeling justly indignant with those who try to introduce such a radical change1 for1 surely1 we are already too much inclined to follow all the ways and pursuits of the opposite sex without so far forgetting ourselves as to wish to ride as they do4 ,i do not want to criticise what one is often obliged to do in foreign lands2 there it may prove a necessity1 for the riding is not simply for pleasure1 but often the only means of transport1 and the horses may not be fitted for our saddles1 nor we accustomed to their paces2 but1 in ,england1 the idea of a number of ladies fantastically dressed and mounted like men must shock many of your readers4 ,i hope ,x4 ,y4 ,z41 who first wrote in favour of this change some weeks ago1 may pardon me if ,i say that the ladies of his or her acquaintance who1 in consequence of only one stirrup1 cannot avoid inclining the head and shoulders too much to the left1 c41 and in addition gall their horses' backs1 had better not attempt to ride at all4 ,what is a prettier sight than a neatly-dressed ,englishwoman riding a horse1 as a lady1 and should we retain the same respect we now get if we gave up1 in this particular1 the few feminine tokens left to us4 ,why not let us accept the male attire altogether8 ,it would be far more to our comfort in getting about on foot1 and if one change is so advisable1 surely the other is quite as sensible4 ,i agree with ,hersilie in thinking that the habits of the present day are indelicately short1 and ,i cannot see that ladies ride any better showing their boots and with their arms akimbo than they did a year or so ago1 when their feet were covered and no daylight showed between their arms4 ,i come of as horsey a family as any in ,england1 and have ridden ever since ,i could sit upright2 but ,i never experienced1 or knew that my sisters experienced1 any of the troubles ,x4 ,y4 ,z4 and ,hersilie complain of4 ,my father1 who was our sole instructor1 put us on any animal that he thought likely to suit his own riding1 and no matter where we were1 in the hunting-field or elsewhere1 the least deviation from sitting square would bring from him the sharp reprimand of1 ,what are you doing8 ,bring that left shoulder up1 and don't let me see any daylight between your arms6 ,he also insisted that our stirrups should be short1 even to discomfort1 until we got used to it2 but this prevented any chance of our hurting the horse's back1 which most frequently comes from a lady riding with a long stirrup1 and when she trots having to seek her stirrup1 which constantly moves her saddle1 and makes her as well look most awkward and one-sided4 ,if not trespassing too much1 may ,i say one other little word in the interest of the horses ,i love so well8 ,over and over again1 lately1 have ,i seen the advice given in your paper that we should never be without a spur4 ,now1 sir1 if my experience can have any weight1 ,i will say that ,i have hunted and ridden across country in all parts of ,gloucestershire all my young days1 that ,i was put on horses whether they or ,i liked it or not1 both kind1 unkind1 or violent ones1 and ,i am thankful to say that the idea of my wearing a spur never entered my father's head nor mine4 ,it seems to me such an underhand way of punishing one's horse--a real feminine species of torture1 for no one sees the dig1 dig1 dig1 but there it is all the time2 and many a horse1 ,i firmly believe1 comes to grief with its rider simply because1 not understanding its power1 she taxes it beyond its strength4 ,not one horse in twenty will refuse1 or need either whip or spur if he knows his mistress1 and if he does he is not fit for inexperienced riders4 ,i wish every girl was taught as ,i have been1 that a horse can do no wrong4 ,this made me study the peculiarities of every animal ,i was put upon1 and ,i have never had an accident of any kind4 ,every horsewoman who loves riding must be proud of the feats accomplished by ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue in the side-saddle1 but would she be admired or respected as she is if she turned out as a man and rode as men do8 ,it is being able to sit square and ride straight on a side-saddle1 that we should be vain of1 and not wish to make a change1 which could only bring ,englishwomen down in the estimation of all those who are now so justly proud of them on horseback4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,yours1 c4 ,,the ,,ladybird4 ,december #ah1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,will you allow me to make one or two remarks upon a letter ,i read last night in your valuable paper8 ,it is from a correspondent speaking of the ill effects produced by the use of side-saddles4 ,in the first place your correspondent should remember that the back of the horse1 as well as the shoulder1 is soft and tender when not in condition1 that is1 in constant work1 and not fit for either riding or driving long distances at once1 without damage4 ,get the back carefully and well seasoned1 or accustomed to the side-saddle1 during the time the horse is getting into condition for the hunting-field1 and use a leather saddle-cloth under the saddle2 let it be long enough1 and not the shape of the saddle1 and have all properly put on the horse1 and you will not come to grief with six or seven hours' work1 or before the lady is tired2 that is1 provided the lady will sit well down and steady in her saddle1 and keep her horse as much from trotting as possible4 ,her horse must learn to canter slowly both to cover and home1 it will be much better for the horse and much easier for the lady when she is accustomed to it2 she will not be troubled any more with horses with sore backs4 ,another remark from ,x4 ,y4 ,z4 is1 it is said that curvature of the spine sometimes ensues from children being taught at too early an age to ride on side-saddles4 ,i fear the mistake is by the said children not having been taught how to sit or to put themselves in form for their own comfort1 but left to sit as they like on horseback and get bad habits they cannot get rid of1 never throwing the weight of the body in its proper place4 ,then1 as to the remark about the riding-habit on the pommels1 that disadvantage either has1 or ought to have1 passed away a long time ago2 for ,i am well satisfied that a lady can so dress herself for the hunting-field in boots1 ,bedfords1 and plenty of flannel that she can keep herself warm and comfortable without a great1 strong1 heavy1 long riding-habit4 ,let the habit be short and very light1 and by no means bound round the bottom part with anything strong1 but left so that it will give way either in a fall or in leaping through a high fence4 ,i wonder if ,mr4 ,lovell had his knife in his pocket when he saw his daughter suspended by the habit1 which would neither tear nor be removed2 had it been of light1 thin material1 and short1 the sad accident would not have occurred4 ,i am satisfied a little care and proper attention will put all things right of which your correspondent complains4 ,i am1 c4 ,o4 ,p4 ,december1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,in your issue of the #dth ,december1 ,farmer writes that his horses are fed upon oats which have been soaked in cold water1 and that he has the corn thus prepared because he could not easily manage to have a steaming apparatus for cooking the food in the way that is recommended by ,mr4 ,edward ,mayhew ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s41 in his ,illustrated ,horse ,management4 ,the plan that ,i have adopted during the last two months has been to have the oats put in a pail 7made of oakwood7 in the evening1 and to pour upon them from a kettle a sufficient quantity of boiling water to rise a little above the oats2 a sack is placed over it to keep in the heat1 and the oats are then left to soak during the night2 on the following morning the husk is so much softened that it will yield to the pressure of the thumb and finger4 ,in this state the oats are more easily digested by the horse1 and it is better for his teeth than to have to bite a hard substance4 ,a wooden pail is preferable to a zinc one1 because it does not conduct the heat from the oats so much as one of the latter description does4 ,a lid would be1 perhaps1 better than a sack4 ,the pail should not be filled with the oats1 because the latter will swell when soaked4 ,in the stall in our stable there is no water-trough at the side of the manger1 and in order that the horse may have water within reach during the day and night1 a zinc pail is placed in and at the end of the manger1 and the handle of it is secured by a chain to the iron bars forming the upper part of the partition between the two stalls4 ,in the loose-box1 a pail containing water is suspended by a chain to some iron bars placed inside the window4 ,i am1 c4 ,x4 ,y4 ,z4 ,london1 ,december1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i cannot but feel flattered that ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue has so frankly and kindly invited me to break a lance with her4 ,i do1 with both my hands and with all my heart1 reciprocate her warm shake-hands1 and1 vizor down and spear in rest1 ride full tilt at her in fair and open fight to do my poor devoirs1 if you will allow me once again to enter the lists in your paper4 ,if ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue will read her paper in your number for ,november #bgth she will find these words3 ,my companion was in ease while ,i was in torture4 ,why was this8 ,because he had a leg on either side of his mount1 his weight equally distributed1 and an equal support upon both sides2 in fact1 he had1 as all male riders have1 the advantage of a double support in the rise2 consequently1 at the moment when his weight was removed from the saddle1 it was thrown upon both sides1 and this equal distribution enabled him to accomplish without fatigue that slow rise and fall which is so tiring to a lady whose weight1 when she is out of the saddle1 is thrown entirely upon one delicate limb1 thus inducing her to fall again as soon as possible4 ,again1 in the very next paragraph1 ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue says1 ,a man will be able to stand in his stirrups for a considerable time1 even to ride at a gallop1 so doing because he transfers his weight equally to his feet2 but how rarely do we see a lady balanced upon one leg6 ,the sensation is not agreeable1 and would1 moreover1 be unpleasantly productive of wrung backs4 ,these are verbatim extracts from ,part ,three continued4 ,i think my preference for a leg on each side of my horse1 and a distribution of my weight equally on to each foot1 is most eloquently and forcibly justified by ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue when she wrote the above4 ,i did not suggest1 or at any rate did not mean to suggest1 that she advocated a cross-seat for ladies1 but that she unmistakably pointed out the great advantages of such a seat her own words abundantly testify4 ,again1 some of the healthiest children ,i have ever seen are poor little gipsy girls1 who1 from being able to mount a donkey1 have always ridden astride when once past the pannier period of their nomadic life4 ,also1 some of the short1 stout peasant women of ,normandy ride thus1 as well as the ,indian squaws1 and certainly these will compare favourably as to robust health with their side-saddle sisters of civilisation2 to say nothing of the ,south ,american ladies4 ,we have also the testimony of many lady travellers as to the superiority of a cross-seat when horseback is the only mode of transit4 ,i cannot admit that in any case1 even for short women or little girls1 it would be most objectionable1 that is1 from a hygienic point of view4 ,on the score of modesty1 de gustibus1 c4 c4 ,but then ,i allow a great latitude on such a point 7our highest order carries the truest motto1 honi soit qui mal y pense74 ,in fact1 ,i do not regard it as a question of modesty at all2 simply of convenience1 efficiency1 and comfort4 ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue also says how rare it is to meet with a perfect lady's horse4 ,in all my wide experience ,i have met but two4 ,why8 because a lady 7and mainly on account of her side-seat1 as ,i believe7 is heavily handicapped as compared with a man in her choice of a horse1 or1 ,i should say1 in her requirements from her horse4 ,every remark in the whole of the papers1 ,ladies on ,horseback1 as to kindness1 temper1 and gentleness in the treatment of a horse ,i most cordially endorse1 and ,i have to thank the fair authoress for the pleasure ,i have had in their perusal4 ,a word or two in answer to ,the ,ladybird4 ,in reply to her opening remarks1 ,i merely observe1 use is second nature1 and had she happened to have lived before ,anne of ,bohemia introduced side-saddles she would have had no room for indignation2 possibly in that case she would have always ridden pillion4 ,oh6 if we could only once realise how much we are the slaves of fashion1 how soon would the yoke be broken6 ,contrast the crinoline of #aheg and the umbrella-case attire of #ahgg2 put a fashionable belle of the latter alongside her sister of only twenty years earlier mode4 ,what a satire on taste1 on modesty so called6 ,but ,i would also ask ,ladybird 7if it be worth her while7 to read again my letter of the #ahth1 and she will find ,i did not complain of the side-saddle1 which ,i have an idea ,i can use1 but pointed out its great inferiority 7which ,i maintain7 to the cross-saddle4 ,the best test perhaps is the foreign one4 ,mount a horse without a saddle1 but properly bitted1 and then decide which is the more natural and easier seat2 in one case you feel an appendage2 in the other almost part of the horse4 ,in the name of womanhood ,i repudiate the suggestion of an underhand way of punishment1 being a real feminine species of torture4 ,perhaps it is1 under the skirts of a habit1 possible to dig1 dig1 dig1 for no one sees1 truly2 but surely no lady could1 or would1 spur her horse for the sake of tormenting him2 in my attire at any rate it would not be unseen4 ,the extraordinary teaching that a horse can do no wrong is an axiom with which ,i cannot agree4 ,i have been mounted on horses that could do no right1 or if they could do it would not4 ,and it has taken me all my time and taxed all my energies to prevent them from doing the things which they ought not to do2 for ,i do object to a horse attempting to erect himself in a perpendicular attitude1 either from a fore or aft basis1 when ,i am on his back1 and ,i rejoice to know that ,i have 7in such cases7 on each foot a sharp spur to use with him as a cogent argument in convincing him that ordinary progression on four legs is infinitely better than saltimbantique performance on two--at least from my1 his rider's1 point of view4 ,on a well-bred1 highly-trained animal a spur is scarce ever required to be used1 but even then the emergency may arise4 ,i really laughed outright when ,i read what you1 ,sir1 said of the shoals of letters arriving from fair correspondents desiring to ride as ,hersilie suggested1 but this only convinces me that there are many ladies who feel that it would be--just exactly as ,i described it--a new life on horseback4 ,i could add much more on the subject1 but have already trespassed too long on your space4 ,i only repeat1 let any lady once fairly try it1 and she will always prefer it4 ,i do not for a moment imagine she will always do it4 ,i admit we must conform to custom1 and ,i strongly deprecate individual eccentricity1 especially in a lady4 ,i shall continue to read all that appears in your paper on this and kindred topics with deep interest4 ,again1 ,i specially thank ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue for her genial and kindly expression of goodwill1 and again heartily shake the shadowy hand she offers4 ,i quite believe a ,no4 #f gloved hand can control a horse as well as any #g1 #ga_/b1 or #h1 if it only be possessed of the cunning4 ,and thanking you1 sir1 for your kindness1 allow me as a woman to have the last word1 and again assert1 the cross seat is much the better4 ,yours1 c4 ,,hersilie4 ,ambleside 7pro tem471 ,dec4 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,kindly permit me to say a few words in reply to ,hersilie's letter1 which appeared in your issue of last week4 ,i am referred to my own paper in your number for ,november #bg1 but ,hersilie does not quote correctly1 or perhaps the error is the printer's4 ,i think ,i said ,my companion was at ease1 whilst ,i was in torture4 ,now1 ,i merely related the incident with which these words were associated in order to instruct ladies how to avoid the double rise--not to advocate for a single instant their riding upon a cross-saddle4 ,i am quite ready to reiterate my statement that the position of a man enables him to ride a rough or clumsy trotter with infinitely greater ease than can a woman2 but women should not1 in my opinion1 ride such at all1 nor should ,i have done so1 as related in your paper of ,november #bg1 were it not that my host1 an immensely heavy man1 had none but big rough horses in his stable1 and ,i was obliged either to accept a mount upon one of them1 for at least once1 or give offence to a dear kind friend1 which ,i would not do to avoid even a greater amount of inconvenience than ,i experienced upon the occasion in question4 ,the cross-seat is not the only thing which ladies may envy the sterner sex1 without at the same time advocating the propriety of encroaching upon their privileges4 ,for my own part ,i never yet set out to walk on a wet or muddy day without sincerely envying every man who passed me1 his big boots1 tucked-up trousers1 and freedom from the petticoats and furbelows which encumber us and make us feel miserable in the rain2 yet ,i certainly never felt the smallest desire to adopt his costume4 ,nor have ,i ever seen two persons1 or two big dogs1 engaged in fighting1 that ,i did not envy the man who rushed between the combatants and stopped the unseemly exhibition2 yet ,i decidedly experienced no wish to do it myself4 ,it would not be my place4 ,men have their costume1 their avocations1 their sayings and doings1 their varied callings in the world1 and women have theirs4 ,each should be separate and distinct from the other4 ,a manly woman1 or a womanly man1 is1 in the eyes of all rightly-judging persons1 a most objectionable creature4 ,there are many things which a woman may legitimately admire1 and1 in a certain sense1 envy1 yet with which she should never desire to meddle1 unless she is ambitious to merge her womanhood in the semblance of man4 ,the cross-saddle is one of these4 ,it may do very well in the wilds of a country whose inhabitants are from childhood accustomed to it1 and where all ride alike1 but not in civilised ,england4 ,as well seek to advocate the dress 7or undress7 of the ,indian squaws1 as to endeavour to introduce their style of riding into a land whose daughters are as modest as they are fair4 ,hersilie says3--,i do not regard it as a question of modesty at all1 simply of convenience1 efficiency1 and comfort4 ,the subject is one upon which a woman can touch but very lightly1 yet may ,i affirm that if all women were to lay aside their chief charm1 and simply go in for convenience1 efficiency1 and comfort1 society would present fewer attractions than it at present does8 ,i shall leave ,the ,ladybird to answer for herself1 but ,i cannot help saying that ,i think ,hersilie is hard upon her4 ,she and ,i have met but once1 yet ,i know that she is gentle and highborn1 and worthy of nothing but the love of which her own ,christian heart is composed4 ,you1 sir1 must also fight your own little battle1 and tell ,hersilie she is not to laugh outright at any of your ,circular ,notes4 ,she may laugh1 of course1 at small fry like myself1 but ,i really can't have my ,editor laughed at6 nor my sweet ,ladybird crushed6 ,and now1 having said so much1 ,i once again offer a shadowy hand to my adversary1 and hope that though at present we see one another but darkly1 we may yet do so face to face1 and meet as friends4 ,a word1 with your permission1 to correspondents3-- ,,evelyn ,,harkess4--,i have discovered your parcel4 ,i thought you were sending it addressed to me4 ,you shall have the contents in a few days4 ,,flink4--,there is never one worth buying1 although unwise persons bid fast and high4 ,try a private source1 and beware of imposition4 ,r4 ,,king4--,the horse is sold4 ,h4 ,,dunbar1 ,,shamus ,o',,brien1 ,w4 ,,hatfield1 and ,,rose ,,marie4--,your questions are of too personal a nature4 ,if time permits ,i will answer privately4 ,,ignoramus4--,dose him with aloes until he is dead sick2 then put a saddle on him1 with a sand-bag at either side1 and ring him for an hour4 ,i warrant he will allow a man upon his back after this1 nor will he seek to dislodge him either4 ,it is much better and more humane than the whipping and spurring which is so grievous to a sensitive looker-on4 ,,hugh4--,apply to ,mr4 ,chapman1 ,oaklands1 ,cheltenham4 ,i4 ,,stark4--,how shall ,i thank you8 but ,i know not when ,i can ride again4 ,your recipe1 if effectual1 would be indeed invaluable4 ,i shall look for a purchaser for your cob4 ,,may-,,blossom4--,the nicest modern saddles have no stitching about them4 ,call at #b1 ,jermyn ,street4 ,,nimrod ,,ii4--,i have nothing that would suit you1 nor do ,i ever sell my horses1 unless under exceptional circumstances4 ,i am1 of course1 flattered that so many are desirous of possessing what ,i have ridden1 but my stable is extremely limited4 ,see my reply to ,,hugh4 ,,hannah ,,powell4--,i shall answer by letter4 ,,synnorix4--,i said in a former letter that there was no cure for ringbone2 ,i have since heard of one which ,i consider invaluable1 and the lady who possesses it would sell it for a trifling sum4 ,apply to ,mrs4 ,slark1 ,rose ,cottage1 ,bletchley4 ,i hope ,,ursa ,,major will see this reply to ,,synnorix1 and will profit by my advice1 which is to apply at once for the cure4 ,k4 ,c41 ,,redcar4--,i am pleased you found my system effectual1 but are you sure you did not carry it out too rigorously8 ,few would have such courage4 ,,jockey4--,an authority says ,fairyhouse1 and ,i dare say he is right1 although there is a double at ,punchestown--a big one--at which many a good man and true has come to signal grief4 ,i saw a fine young racer killed there last year4 ,to ,,edith1 ,,paul ,,pry1 ,,jane ,,burkitt1 ,,constance ,,haye1 and ,,mousquetaire1 many thanks4 ,if you write to the ,editor he may perhaps give you information as to the possibility of what you ask4 ,yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,as ,i learned from a recent letter from that most amiable and talented lady1 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 that her teacher has been the fine old sportsman1 ,allen ,mc,donogh1 ,i need wonder no longer at her having become the very brilliant horsewoman which undoubtedly she is4 ,a finer or more graceful horseman than her teacher was1 has never lived4 ,since growing years and increasing weight prevented him from riding his own horses he has brought out very many crack gentlemen riders within the past twenty years1 some of them quite shining lights4 ,amongst some may be enumerated his great friend1 ,captain ,tempest1 #aath ,hussars2 ,captain ,prichard ,rayner1 #eth ,dragoon ,guards2 ,mr4 ,laurence1 #dth ,hussars2 ,captain1 now ,major1 ,hutton1 #ast ,royal ,dragoons2 ,captain ,brown1 of the ,royal ,horse ,artillery1 who unfortunately was killed a few years since crossing the railway returning from a steeplechase meeting held near ,london2 ,captain ,ricardo1 #aeth ,hussars2 ,lieutenant-,colonel ,mc,calmont1 #gth ,hussars2 ,captain ,soames1 #dth ,hussars2 and the ever-to-be-regretted ,captain the ,hon4 ,greville ,nugent2 and last1 but by no means least1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,beasley1 besides many others1 all these gentlemen1 excepting ,mr4 ,laurence1 having their first winning mount on ,mr4 ,mc,donogh's horses4 ,as professionals1 he brought out ,paddy ,gavin and ,george ,gray1 the former of whom1 when scarcely more than a child1 and weighing but #d st4 #g lb41 rode and won the ,prince of ,wales' ,steeplechase1 at ,punchestown1 on ,blush ,rose4 ,i think ,i may be permitted to mention two of ,mr4 ,mc,donogh's daring feats4 ,when riding ,sailor in a steeplechase1 over an awfully severe country1 close to the town of ,bandon1 ,co4 ,cork 7where started1 amongst nine others1 the celebrated horses ,monarch and ,valentine1 the latter running second1 two years later1 for the ,liverpool ,grand ,national1 and the former sold soon afterwards to the great ,marquis of ,waterford for a large sum1 showing that the company at ,bandon was by no means a contemptible lot71 in this race1 the distance of which was #d-a_/b miles1 ,sailor fell four times1 each time unseating his rider2 yet so active was his pilot in those days that he was as quickly in the saddle as out of it4 ,at his fourth and last fall1 the horse chested the bank1 flung his rider some distance from him1 and having a tight hold of the bridle reins1 the throat-lash gave way1 and the bridle came off the horse's head4 ,as ,sailor was getting on his legs1 ,mr4 ,mc,donogh jumped into the saddle1 and setting his horse going was soon in pursuit of the leaders4 ,there were in the #a-a_/b miles that had yet to be travelled nearly ten awkward double-posted fences4 ,the third last impediment was a narrow lane--called in ,irish a boreen--with an intricate bank into and out of it4 ,the riders of ,valentine and ,monarch had bridles2 consequently they could steady their horses and jump in and out clever4 ,not so ,mr4 ,mc,donogh1 who had nothing to guide his horse but his whip4 ,steering the animal1 however1 for the boreen he put him at his best pace1 and without ever laying an iron on it1 he went from field to field and landed alongside the leaders4 ,the riders of the other horses1 seeing he had no power to guide his mount1 endeavoured to put him outside a post that had to be gone round to make the turn into the straight line for home2 but the young jockey1 stretching his arms almost round his horse's nose1 by some means got him straight1 and1 making the remainder of the running1 won easily4 ,valentine's rider at the scales objected to ,sailor for not having carried a bridle1 but ,mr4 ,mc,donogh was able to draw the weight1 and was declared the winner amidst the wildest enthusiasm4 ,the other extraordinary performance occurred one day on his pet mount1 the celebrated ,brunette1 at ,cashel4 ,when riding ,mountain ,hare the previous day over the same course he was crossed by an old woman at an ugly up bank4 ,the horse struck the woman in the chest and very nearly put an end to his rider also1 who1 in the fall1 got his collar-bone and six ribs broken4 ,the late ,dr4 ,russell1 of ,cashel1 was quickly by his side1 and telling the ,marquis of ,waterford of the serious injuries ,mr4 ,mc,donogh had received1 that most noble-hearted man instantly sent for his carriage1 which1 with two post-horses1 speedily took the invalid to the hotel in ,cashel4 ,the collarbone being set and ribs bandaged1 he passed a miserable night4 ,brunette was in a race the next day1 and as he would allow no man to sit on her back1 he got out of his bed1 mounted the mare1 and1 bandaged as he was and in great pain1 won the race4 ,lord ,waterford's ,regalia was second1 his lordship jestingly remarking that if he had known ,brunette's master would have ridden her he would have left him lying at the bank1 ,in conclusion1 ,mr4 ,editor1 permit me to say that we ,irish are charmed with ,mrs4 ,o',donoghue's writings1 as also with your most interesting and beautifully got-up paper4 ,yours1 c4 ,,maurice ,,lawlor4 ,battlemount1 ,ballytore1 ,co4 ,kildare4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,notwithstanding the enterprise of the large number of ladies who1 you say1 desire to ride after the fashion of the ,mexican senoras1 ,i venture to hope that the present custom of riding in a side-saddle will not be departed from by ladies1 except in case of necessity2 and ,i point out that in ,india1 ,south ,africa1 and all the ,australian colonies the side-saddle is always used1 though there can be no doubt that if there was any real advantage in the ,mexican style it would be readily adopted in new countries4 ,many persons appear to be quite unaware of what the lady's seat in the side-saddle should be4 ,i describe it thus3 let a man seat himself properly in his saddle1 shorten the left stirrup two or three holes1 and then1 without moving his body or his left leg1 put his right leg over the horse's wither2 the man will then be seated on his horse precisely as a lady should be seated in her side-saddle4 ,a lady's seat in a side-saddle1 of the size suited to her1 is extremely firm2 any one who has not tried a side-saddle with the third crutch has no idea of the firm seat that a lady has4 ,i was quite astonished when ,i tried it1 and ,i believe that1 after practising for a day or two to get the balance1 ,i could ride any horse in a side-saddle that ,i could ride at all2 whilst the exploits of ladies show clearly that a change of style is not required for the purpose of obtaining a more secure seat4 ,one of the greatest difficulties that ladies have to contend with in this country in learning to ride is that they often get such poor instructors4 ,many of those who call themselves riding masters are little better than grooms1 and the people who offer to turn out accomplished horsewomen in twelve easy lessons for ,l#b #bs4 must know that1 except in a few cases of natural special aptitude1 they cannot do much more than teach a lady how to avoid tumbling too quickly out of the saddle4 ,on the other hand1 a lady who has been through a full course of instruction from a good master1 has little to learn except those matters of detail which experience alone can teach2 but far better than any professional instruction is that constant and careful supervision from a good horseman1 such as ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue and ,the ,ladybird mentioned in a late issue1 one who will not be afraid of being called a bother when he points out and corrects every fault1 however small4 ,i consider1 sir1 that you have given good advice to ladies when you say1 ,i think a lady should wear a spur1 though she may not often find it necessary to use it4 ,in your last issue two experienced ladies give their opinions on this subject2 one disapproves of the spur1 the other says she always wears one4 ,everyone will agree with ,the ,ladybird that when it is dig1 dig1 dig all the time1 such use of a spur is improper2 for though a sharp stroke is required sometimes--for instance1 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 when describing her flight into the farmyard1 says3 ,i dug him with my spur--the proper way to apply a spur is1 in general1 as described by ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue in your last issue1 by pressure4 ,the term box spur is usually applied to spurs that fit into spring boxes or sockets in the heels of the boots2 a spur with a spring sheath over the point is usually called a sheath spur2 for hunting1 anything that will act as a goad will answer the desired purpose1 but for park or road riding the spur should be one with which a very slight touch or a sharp stroke can be given1 as may be required4 ,i know that the spur with a five-pointed rowel is preferred by ladies who have tried it to any other2 but1 whatever spur is selected1 a lady should take care that the points are long enough to be effective when the habit intervenes4 ,i think1 sir1 with you1 that a lady should always wear a spur2 and ,i notice in this correspondence1 the ladies who denounce the use of a spur almost invariably say that they have never tried one2 whilst ladies who have once experienced the advantage and convenience of it1 never willingly mount a horse without one4 ,there is not any real mystery about ladies' riding or ladies' horses2 almost any horse that will carry a man will carry a woman1 and the latter1 when on horseback1 ought to be provided1 as nearly as possible1 with the same aids and appliances as are required by the former4 ,it is not every lady who can indulge in the luxury of a three-hundred-guinea saddle-horse1 and the treatment that may answer with such a horse is not necessarily suited to an ordinary hack2 yet some of the handsomest and most highly-trained ladies' horses in the ,row are ridden with a spur1 and it is only proper that they should be2 they have been trained by the professional lady riders with a spur1 and they are accustomed to receive from a slight touch of the spur the indications of the rider's wish2 whilst as to the common livery-stable hacks1 it is often painful to ride them until they feel that you are provided with spurs1 when their whole nature appears to change1 and you can enjoy a tolerably pleasant ride4 ,the ,ladybird says she was taught that a horse can do no wrong4 ,as a matter of theory the idea is a very pretty one1 but ,i can only say1 as a simple matter of fact1 that ,i have often known a horse exhibit a very large amount of what the late ,mr4 ,artemus ,ward called cussedness2 and ,i know of nothing that1 when a horse is in that frame of mind1 will bring him to his senses so quickly1 so effectually1 and with so much convenience to the rider1 as a sharp spur4 ,in far-off lands1 ,i was once nearly two hours doing a distance of some seven miles on a new purchase4 ,i was then without spurs2 but the next day1 when ,i was provided with them1 the same animal did the same distance easily and pleasantly in about forty minutes4 ,i very much dislike to see a lady use a whip to her horse3 and1 as ,i have always proved spurs to be a great convenience1 ,i recommend a lady to wear one1 and to use it when necessary in preference to the whip4 ,i am1 c4 ,,southern ,,cross4 ,december1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,since ,i have come to ,london ,i have been asked so many questions respecting the reason why ladies so often pull their horses1 that ,i feel ,i may accomplish some good by answering1 or may at least assist in doing away with a very crying evil4 ,my opinion is that there is usually but one reason1 viz4 because the horses pull them2 but for a woman to pull against a pulling horse only increases the evil4 ,it is a fallacy1 and can never accomplish the desired end4 ,a determined puller cannot1 under any circumstances1 be suitable to a lady1 and should never be ridden by one1 unless she be a sufficiently good rider and have sufficiently good hands to make the horse's mouth1 which is not the case with one woman in five hundred1 or1 ,i might almost say1 one man either4 ,horses that pull have been almost invariably spoilt in the training4 ,occasionally a fine-mouthed animal will be ruined by an ignorant or cruel rider1 but ,i must say1 in justice to my sex1 that they are seldom guilty of doing it4 ,the fault lies amongst men4 ,many women are ignorant riders2 but1 thank ,god6 the blot of cruelty rarely defaces their name4 ,women are naturally gentle1 kindly1 and--cowardly2 three things calculated not to injure a horse1 except it be the latter1 which enables him to discover that he can be master if he please4 ,doubtless there are cruel women1 also1 who cut and lash1 and tug and spur1 and treat heaven's noble gifts as though they were mere machinery1 and not flesh and blood like ourselves2 but how often shall ,i say1 in answer to the numerous cases cited to me1 that in writing upon this or any other subject ,i speak of the rule1 not of the isolated exceptions4 ,when a man begins to break a horse he regularly prepares for combat4 ,he sets himself to work with a resolute determination to fight and be fought1 as though he had a strong rebellious spirit to deal with and conquer1 instead of a loving1 kindly1 timid nature1 which needs nought save gentleness to make it amenable to even the rudest hand4 ,the man begins by pulling2 the horse1 on the schoolboy tit for tat principle1 pulls against him in return2 is sold before his education 7bad as it has been7 is half completed2 is ridden out to exercise by grooms with heavy iron hands2 is handed over to the riding-school and to carry young ladies when every bit of spirit has been knocked out of him1 except the determined one of pulling--pulls resolutely against the feeble hands striving to control him2 is pulled and strained at in return1 and becomes in time a confirmed and unmanageable brute4 ,i wish ,i could persuade ladies not to pull their horses4 ,in a former number ,i endeavoured to tell them the proper method of managing or dealing with a pulling animal3 neither to drop their hands to him1 nor to pull one ounce against him4 ,he will be certain after a few strides to yield a bit1 when the hands--hitherto firm1 should immediately yield to him1 thus establishing a sort of give and take principle1 which will soon be perfectly understood by the intelligent creature under control4 ,we do not half appreciate our horses4 ,every touch of our fingers1 every word we utter1 every glance from our eye is noted by the horse1 and is valued or resented as it deserves4 ,so many animals are made unruly by the undue use of a severe curb that ,i strongly advise a trial of the snaffle only1 holding the curb-rein loosely over the little finger1 so that it may be in an instant taken up in case it prove necessary1 which1 in my opinion1 it rarely will4 ,to illustrate my meaning1 on ,monday last ,i rode a mare for a lady1 who was very desirous of ascertaining whether the animal was capable of carrying a lady with safety4 ,the groom1 who was to accompany me1 was evidently extremely nervous4 ,he told me1 as we started1 that the mare had never done any saddle work1 except with a very wild young gentleman-rider1 who had bitted her severely1 and yet found her difficult to manage2 and he implored me earnestly to keep a good hold of the curb4 ,i found that she hung desperately upon her bridle1 kept her head between her knees with a strong1 determined1 heavy pull upon the bit1 and rough1 jerky action1 which was most unpleasant4 ,when ,i got her into the ,row she nearly pulled my arms out in her canter--the tug she had upon the bridle was quite terrific2 and1 evidently prepared for the accustomed fight1 she put back her ears and shook her wicked head angrily4 ,i rode her from ,palace ,gate to ,hyde ,park ,corner in the same manner as ,i have sought to impress upon my lady readers--namely1 not pulling one atom against her1 but keeping my hands low and firm1 and yielding slightly to her in her stride4 ,by the time we had turned at the ,corner she had quite given up fighting4 ,i then dropped the curb1 and rode her entirely upon the snaffle4 ,the effect was magical4 ,she lifted her head1 ceased pulling altogether1 and went along in a pleasant joyous canter1 going well up to her bridle1 but not attempting any liberties whatever1 ,in an hour's time1 as you1 sir1 who were riding with me will bear testimony1 ,i was holding her with one hand1 stooping forward1 and making much of her with the other1 an attention which she evidently regarded as a pleasing novelty1 and highly appreciated4 ,finding her slightly untractable during the ride homeward ,i once more lightly took up the curb4 ,it maddened her in a moment4 ,she turned round and round1 ran me against a cart1 and behaved so excitedly that it required my best skill1 confidence1 and temper to restore her equanimity and steer her safely 7using the snaffle only7 to her destination4 ,on dismounting ,i observed to the groom that considering the amount of exercise and excitement through which she had passed1 it was wonderful she had not sweated4 ,his answer was that she was always fed upon cooked food1 and that the chief sustenance of the horse which he himself was riding--a remarkably fine three-year-old--was boiled barley4 ,i have never1 myself1 tried this feeding1 but if looks and condition may be regarded as recommendation1 it must be most excellent4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i have been very greatly interested by the remarks on saddles1 spurs1 c41 made by your lady correspondents4 ,my husband is a large ranchero1 or cattle-farmer1 on the ,rio ,grande1 between ,mexico and ,texas1 and naturally ,i have had much experience of hard as well as long-distance riding4 ,having been accustomed to hunting when ,i was a girl1 ,i came out here with an exaggerated idea of my skill in horsemanship4 ,my first ride in ,mexico was one of three hundred miles1 which we did in seven days2 ,i rode on an ,english hunting-saddle almost1 if not quite1 as straight as a board4 ,after the second day ,i found it as uncomfortable a seat as could be desired1 and was glad to change it for the peon's ordinary ,mexican saddle1 which ,i found perfectly easy and comparatively comfortable to my ,english one4 ,this last ,i have found exceedingly fatiguing and ill-adapted to a long journey1 although very good for a few hours' ride after wild cattle1 which is a certain approach to hunting1 although the jumping is not stiff4 ,lately ,i had another saddle sent out from ,england1 which was a little deeper1 and ,i find it much more useful for long distances4 ,as ladies are not in the habit of riding steeplechases1 ,i would venture to suggest that1 for hard riding1 such as hunting1 the saddle might rather be heavier than lighter1 as ,i am sure that this must give more relief to the horse's back4 ,in fact1 ,i believe that the sore backs so often produced by ladies' saddles are more frequently caused by the saddle being too light than too heavy4 ,i quite agree with some of your correspondents that the padded stirrup is most dangerous1 as it is not easy to get the foot out quickly if anything should happen4 ,the principle1 as stated by the ,mexicans1 of striking a horse between the ears is not to bring him down by fright1 but to bring him down by force1 so as to stun him4 ,now1 do you think that any of your fair correspondents could accomplish this with a light park or hunting-whip8 ,i may be very bold to offer any suggestions1 but the lady's sidesaddle of the nineteenth century is very far from being pleasant4 ,why should not ladies in this age of progression begin to ride on saddles shaped like a man's1 with the same seat a man uses8 ,it would be much more comfortable1 as even a stout lady could not look much more ungraceful than she does now1 besides materially lessening the danger4 ,i send you a sketch of a ,mexican saddle4 ,i am1 c4 ,,campesina4 ,san ,antonio de ,bexar1 ,texas1 ,u4,s4,a4 ,p4,s4--,i would not like you to imagine that ,i intend to slight such an admirable authority as ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 but ,i should be much obliged to any of your correspondents for the design of an improved saddle1 suitable alike for riding a young nervous horse and for journey purposes4 ,i have a design for such a saddle1 but ,i do not know how far it may be practicable4 ,i think if ladies would give their ideas upon this subject through the medium of your columns1 some real improvement might be arrived at4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sir1--,in your issue of the #bgth ,november my letter appeared1 recommending that the use of side-saddles should be discontinued4 ,your correspondent1 ,jack ,spur1 mentions1 in a letter published on the #acth ,november1 that in some works concerning the ,sandwich ,islands1 in the ,northern ,pacific ,ocean1 and the ,rocky ,mountains1 ,north ,america1 the authoress1 ,miss ,isabella ,l4 ,bird1 states that she was accustomed1 while there1 to ride on horseback astride4 ,a few extracts from her above-mentioned writings will probably interest your readers4 ,when in ,hawaii1 or ,owyhee1 one of the ,sandwich ,islands1 the authoress referred to accompanied some friends on horseback to the ,anuenue ,falls on the ,wailuku river 7a river which forms a boundary between two great volcanoes71 and on that occasion used a side-saddle1 but was afterwards advised by one of the party to follow the native fashion of riding astride4 ,having acted upon this advice1 she was well satisfied with the result of the trial1 and continued to adopt that style while in the ,sandwich ,islands1 and also in the ,rocky ,mountains1 where she remained nearly four months4 ,the following extract from a letter written by her about the #bhth of ,january1 from ,hilo1 ,hawaii1 and published in ,the ,hawaiian ,archipelago3 ,six ,months in the ,sandwich ,islands1 #ahge1 page #ff1 gives further particulars of her visit to the ,anuenue ,falls1 above referred to3-- ,everything was new and interesting1 but the ride was spoiled by my insecure seat in my saddle1 and the increased pain in my spine which riding produced4 ,once1 in crossing a stream1 the horses had to make a sort of downward jump from a rock1 and ,i slipped round my horse's neck2 indeed1 on the way back ,i felt that on the ground of health ,i must give up the volcano1 as ,i would never consent to be carried to it1 like ,lady ,franklin1 in a litter4 ,when we returned1 ,mr4 ,severance suggested that it would be much better for me to follow the ,hawaiian fashion1 and ride astride1 and put his saddle on the horse4 ,it was only my strong desire to see the volcano which made me consent to a mode of riding against which ,i have so strong a prejudice2 but the result of the experiment is that ,i shall visit ,kilanea thus or not at all4 ,the native women all ride astride on ordinary occasions in the full sacks1 or holukus1 and on gala days in the pan1 the gay winged dress which ,i described in writing from ,honolulu4 ,a great many of the foreign ladies in ,hawaii have adopted the ,mexican saddle also 7this means that they ride astride7 for greater security to themselves and ease to their horses on the steep and perilous bridle-tracks1 but they wear full ,turkish trousers1 and jauntily-made dresses reaching to the ankles4 ,after leaving the ,sandwich ,islands she went to the ,rocky ,mountains1 and in a letter dated the #bcrd of ,october1 and published in ,a ,lady's ,life in the ,rocky ,mountains1 #ahgi1 she writes from the ,colorado ,district1 ,north ,america3-- ,i rode sidewise till ,i was well through the town1 long enough to produce a severe pain in my spine1 which was not relieved for some time even after ,i had changed my position4 ,it was a lovely ,indian summer day1 so warm that the snow on the ground looked an incongruity4 ,from the fact that many ladies1 when in the ,sandwich ,islands1 ride astride1 and that ,miss ,bird found this position preferable in many respects to that which a side-saddle obliges the rider to take1 ,i infer that ladies in ,england would be pleased if a change in the mode of riding were introduced4 ,proprietors of circuses will perhaps permit me to offer for their consideration that by allowing this mode of riding to form a part of some of the circus performances1 they might do a great deal towards causing it to be recognised by the public as the correct style1 and that one great obstacle in the way of its being generally adopted by horsewomen would then be removed4 ,i wish also to suggest that it should be taught at several riding-schools1 so that a large number of pupils may commence at the same time4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,your obedient servant1 ,x4 ,y4 ,z4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,the letters of your correspondent1 ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 are very instructive and trustworthy1 because founded upon practical experience4 ,in her letter of last week she recommends the feeding of hunters upon cooked food4 ,this to many sportsmen will be a new theory2 not so to me1 and ,i wish to confirm her views1 but ,i carry them out in a more economical way4 ,my establishment is but a small one4 ,i cannot afford space or attendance for a cooking-house1 but ,i believe ,i arrive at the same results as she does1 by steeping my oats in cold water for a given number of hours1 and adding a pound of ,indian meal1 with a handful of chopped hay and oaten straw to each feed three times a day4 ,my horses have a constant supply of water in a manger in a convenient corner of their stables4 ,i believe horses fed upon dry oats and hay suffer much from thirst4 ,i observe my horses take many sups of water through the day1 but take much less on the whole than when watered upon the old practice twice daily4 ,practically1 ,i find my horses very healthy1 strong1 and enduring1 and ,i would freely recommend the adoption of this mode of feeding hunters to my sporting friends4 ,,farmer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,i am still so inundated with correspondence--many writers asking me precisely the same questions--that ,i shall regard it as a favour if you will again allow me to answer a few of them through the medium of your paper4 ,,conn4 ,,dashpur4--,you and your horse were immersed in the river1 simply because you did not give him sufficient head-room to enable him to take the jump with safety4 ,in coming up to a wide stretch of water you should always leave your mount abundant opportunity to extend his head and neck1 nor should you wait to do this until you are just on the brink1--it will then1 most likely1 be too late to save you and him a wetting4 ,a horse stretches his neck coming up to a water-jump1 partly that he may see well what is before him1 and partly because his intelligence tells him that he cannot compass it if tightly reined in4 ,leave him his head1 and if he is a hunter worth riding he will calculate his distance and bear you safely over4 ,at the same time you must remember to give him sufficient support when he lands1 or he may peck1 or roll1 and give you an ugly fall4 ,a horse is much more liable to come down over a water-jump than at a fence1 for the swinging pace at which you must necessarily send him at it--combined with the absolute necessity for leaving him complete freedom of his head--forbids that steadying process1 which1 at the hands of an accomplished rider1 usually ensures safety over wall or ditch4 ,questions similar to yours have been asked me by ,h4 ,,cadlicott1 ,,maurice ,,hone1 and ,,guy4 ,in answering one1 therefore1 ,i reply to each4 ,,ellice ,,greenway4--,your ,,ms4 never reached me2 you must have misdirected it1--but in any case ,i could not have been of service to you1 as ,i have no time for revising other people's work1 nor would my recommendation carry any weight4 ,publishers judge for themselves4 ,your papers must go in on their merits1 and be accepted or rejected accordingly4 ,i quite agree with you that declined ,,mss4 should--when accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope--be returned to the sender with the least possible delay4 ,no matter how great or hurried may be the business of an office1 there is in reality no excuse for inattention to this rule4 ,the very best and busiest of the weekly journals comply with it1 and persons who do not want to be treated with snobbish indifference had better not write for any other4 ,perhaps if you call1 or send a line privately to the ,editor1 you may succeed in getting back your work2 but do not be expectant4 ,,king ,,lear4--,the horse you name attained his victory in #ahgh4 ,he carried #ab st4 #g lbs4 ,g4 ,,hunt4--,beauparc2 but he did not win4 ,p4 ,,ryall4--,at ,thirsk4 ,he fell at the second obstacle1 and although speedily remounted1 his chance was extinguished4 ,pinnace ran well1 and was in great form4 ,his defeat was a surprise1 but your informant has not given you reliable details4 ,,james4--,read ,silk and ,scarlet1 one of the ,druid series4 ,thanks for too flattering opinion4 ,,fordham4--,the course is a most trying one1 and the feat was one never before attempted by a lady4 ,i did it to show that my horse was capable of accomplishing the task1 and the risk was not what you describe it1 for he was too clever to put a foot astray4 ,major ,stone of the #hjth accompanied me1 and gave me a good lead4 ,the only time ,i passed him was when his horse refused at an ugly post and rail4 ,it is not true that he was thrown4 ,he rode splendidly1 managing a difficult horse4 ,there was no crowd1 and in short it is evident that you have received an exaggerated account of the affair4 ,j4 ,,dunne4--,he won at ,newcastle in #ahgi4 ,,collins ,w4--,she was1 in my opinion1 unfairly handicapped1 and the verdict was general respecting the matter4 ,,douglas4--,the horse was not shot for five hours after1 and lay quivering all that time4 ,the owner was absent1 and four of us galloped in search of him4 ,nobody was to blame4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,b4 ,morris1 #gth ,hussars1 was the rider1 and no better ever wore silk4 ,,montauban4--,i have already detailed at some length my objections to children riding before they have strength and judgment sufficient to enable them to manage a horse4 ,moreover1 if a child--say a little girl--gets a severe fall1 the shock to her nervous system is most likely to be a lasting one1 and in some cases is never got over2 whereas grown girls are less liable to fall1 if they have any sort of fair teaching1 and certainly have stronger nerves and firmer resolution to enable them to bear the casualties attendant upon the practice of the art4 ,,curious4--,griffin and ,hawkes1 of ,birmingham1 by the burning of whose premises some of my most valued ,,mss4 were lost4 ,,jessica4--,it is quite untrue4 ,her ,imperial ,majesty dresses and mounts in ordinary fashion4 ,there is not one word of truth in the widely-circulated statement that her habit is buttoned on after she has mounted1 nor is her jacket ever made tight4 ,it is close-fitting and beautifully adapted to her figure1 but sufficiently large to leave her abundant room to move in4 ,the ,empress despises tight stays1 gloves1 and boots4 ,her waist is small1 but not wasp-like4 ,the absurd announcement that it measured but twelve inches 7recently published in one of the weekly journals7 is as false as it is foolish4 ,nobody could exist with such a deformity4 ,the ,empress takes morning exercise upon a trapeze4 ,her hair is dark1 shaded to gold-colour1 like a wood in autumn4 ,the report that she dyes it is one of the many calumnies of which she is the subject1 but which happily cannot harm her4 ,she is not affable2 her manner is stately in the extreme1 to all except those with whom she desires to converse4 ,she speaks fair but not fluent ,english4 ,this reply to ,,jessica is also for ,,frank ,,kurtz1 ,,amy ,,robsart1 and ,,alicia ,,bond4 ,,julius4--,it was not ,i who wrote it4 ,i got the credit of it1 but did not covet the distinction4 ,,george ,k4--,nobody assists me4 ,of course you mean as an amanuensis3 otherwise your question would be an offence4 ,i write my thoughts in short-hand1 and copy at leisure for the press4 ,my time for writing is when the house is quiet1--generally from #aj ,p4,m4 to #b or #c in the morning4 ,i have answered you--but against my will1 as ,i much dislike personal questions4 ,were ,i to reply to such in general1 my entire life would be laid bare to the eyes of a disinterested public1 in order to gratify a few persons1 who have no motive save one of idle curiosity4 ,t4 ,,cannon4--,grandfather's ,hunter is sold out4 ,horses and ,horsemen is to be had1 but its price puts it beyond the pale of ordinary purchasers4 ,try ,bumpus1 or ,mudie4 ,,oxonian4--,you are wrong1--nor have ,i asked your opinion4 ,it is easier to criticise than to write4 ,having done the former1 pray do the latter1 and submit to others' criticism4 ,,marcia ,,flood4--,two yards round the hem is amply sufficient width4 ,i consider the price you name quite exorbitant4 ,try one of those mentioned by me in my chapter upon riding-gear4 ,thanking you1 ,sir1 for your kindness in granting me so much of your valuable space4 ,i am1 yours obediently1 ,,nannie ,,power ,o',,donoghue4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sir1--,in a recent edition ,jack ,spur asks if it is usual in any country for ladies to ride a la ,duchess de ,berri1 i4e4 as a gentleman1 astride4 ,in ,mexico and the ,states of the ,river ,plate this is the usual mount of the fair ones of the district1 and1 clad in loose ,turkish pantalettes tucked into the riding-boots of soft yellow leather1 a loose sort of tunic secured by a belt1 and wearing the ladies' sombrero1 very charming these fair equestriennes look1 and splendid horsewomen they are4 ,talk of ladies1 your ,fair ,play should see the long1 sharp1 ,mexican spurs attached to the heels of these fair prairie-rangers1 and witness how unsparingly they are used4 ,sometimes ,i1 who am no namby-pamby rider1 and have seen my share of rough work1 have ventured to remonstrate in a half-jocular manner 7as became a stranger and foreigner7 when riding along with a ,mexican lady1 who generally keeps her steed at a full gallop by the remorseless application of these instruments of punishment4 ,but the reply was merely a silvery laugh1 and ,ah1 senor1 here horses are cheap1 and when one is finished we have plenty more for the catching4 ,come along6 ,my experience of ladies on horseback as a rule is that they are more severe than men2 perhaps it is thoughtlessness1 but certainly for hard riding and severe spurring ,i have never seen any to surpass a ,mexican senora1 whose favourite pace is a stretching gallop without cessation1 until her steed is perfectly pumped out1 and as horseflesh is of no value whatever1 and no ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,animals exists1 ,i am afraid ,i must record a verdict of cruelty against some of the most charming women ,i ever met4 ,to their fellow mortals all kindness and goodness1 but when mounted on their mustang they seem to forget that he can feel either fatigue or pain4 ,certainly the temptation is great4 ,a horse is of no value2 you seldom mount the same twice on a journey1 and across the beautiful prairies a wild gallop is the pace4 ,but ,i should be sorry to see an ,english lady dismount from her steed1 leaving him utterly exhausted and pumped out1 and his flanks streaming with blood from deep spur-strokes4 ,this ,i have too often seen in ,south ,america4 ,everyone does it1 and it is little thought of2 but by all means let us cherish a better feeling1 and not give any needless pain to that noble animal1 the horse4 ,let the ladies avoid the use of sharp spurs2 most horses ridden by ladies here are perfectly amenable to the whip and rein1 and the use of the spur is somewhat inharmonious with the gentle character of our ,english women4 ,,guacho4 ,st4 ,leonards1 #ahhj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the correspondence upon this subject1 called forth by ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue's admirable papers ',ladies on ,horseback1' has been so voluminous1 and appears likely to go on for such a lengthened period1 that ,i am reluctantly obliged to bring it to a close1 in order to make space for other matter4--,,ed4 ,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news4 ,london3 ,printed by ,w4 ,h4 ,allen ,co41 #ac1 ,waterloo ,place1 ,s4,w4 ,,works ,,published ,,by ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,co4 ,,how ,,to ,,ride ,,and ,,school ,a ,,horse1 ,with a ,system of ,horse ,gymnastics4 ,,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson4 ,crown #hvo4 #bs4 #f;d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,mayhew 7,,edward7 ,,illustrated ,,horse ,,doctor4 ,being an ,accurate and ,detailed ,account1 accompanied by more than #djj ,pictorial ,representations1 characteristic of the various ,diseases to which the ,equine ,race are subjected2 together with the latest ,mode of ,treatment1 and all the requisite ,prescriptions written in ,plain ,english4 ,,by ,,edward ,,mayhew1 ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s4 #hvo4 #ahs4 #f;d4 ,,contents4--,the ,brain and ,nervous ,system4--,the ,eyes4--,the ,mouth4--,the ,nostrils4--,the ,throat4--,the ,chest and its contents4--,the ,stomach1 ,liver1 c4--,the ,abdomen4--,the ,urinary ,organs4--,the ,skin4--,specific ,diseases4--,limbs4--,the ,feet4--,injuries4--,operations4 ,the book contains nearly #fjj pages of valuable matter1 which reflects great credit on its author1 and1 owing to its practical details1 the result of deep scientific research1 deserves a place in the library of medical1 veterinary1 and non-professional readers4--,field4 ,the book furnishes at once the bane and the antidote1 as the drawings show the horse not only suffering from every kind of disease1 but in the different stages of it1 while the alphabetical summary at the end gives the cause1 symptoms1 and treatment of each4--,illustrated ,london ,news4 ,,mayhew 7,,edward7 ,,illustrated ,,horse ,,management4--,containing descriptive remarks upon ,anatomy1 ,medicine1 ,shoeing1 ,teeth1 ,food1 ,vices1 ,stables2 likewise a plain account of the situation1 nature1 and value of the various points2 together with comments on grooms1 dealers1 breeders1 breakers1 and trainers2 ,embellished with more than #djj engravings from original designs made expressly for this work4 ,by ,e4 ,,mayhew4 ,a new ,edition1 revised and improved by ,j4 ,i4 ,,lupton1 ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s4 #hvo4 #abs4 ,,contents4--,the body of the horse anatomically considered4 ,,physic4--,the mode of administering it1 and minor operations4 ,,shoeing4--,its origin1 its uses1 and its varieties4 ,,the ,,teeth4--,their natural growth1 and the abuses to which they are liable4 ,,food4--,the fittest time for feeding1 and the kind of food which the horse naturally consumes4 ,the evils which are occasioned by modern stables4 ,the faults inseparable from stables4 ,the so-called incapacitating vices1 which are the results of injury or of disease4 ,stables as they should be4 ,,grooms4--,their prejudices1 their injuries1 and their duties4 ,,points4--,their relative importance1 and where to look for their development4 ,,breeding4--,its inconsistencies and its disappointments4 ,,breaking ,,and ,,training4--,their errors and their results4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,daumas 7,e47 ,,horses ,,of ,,the ,,sahara1 ,,and ,,the ,,manners ,,of ,,the ,,desert4 ,by ,e4 ,,daumas1 ,general of the ,division ,commanding at ,bordeaux1 ,senator1 c4 c4 ,with ,commentaries by the ,emir ,abd-el-,kadir 7,authorized ,edition74 #hvo4 #fs4 ,we have rarely read a work giving a more picturesque and1 at the same time1 practical account of the manners and customs of a people1 than this book on the ,arabs and their horses4--,edinburgh ,courant4 ,,thurston ,,co4 ,,billiard ,,table ,,manufacturers4 ,,lamp ,,makers ,,and ,,gas ,,fitters4 ,,by ,,appointment ,,to ,,her ,,majesty ,,the ,,queen1 ,,and ,,her ,,royal ,,highness ,,the ,,princess ,,of ,,wales4 ,,established ,a4,d4 #ahad4 #af1 ,,catherine ,,street1 ,,strand1 ,,london4 ,,prize ,,medal1 ,,sydney1 #ahgi1 ,,first ,,award4 ,s4 ,h4 ,,harris',s #eg1 ,,mansell ,,street1 ,e41 ,,ebonite ,,waterproof ,,blacking ,,for ,,hunting ,,or ,,walking ,,boots4 ,,requires ,,no ,,brushing4 ,,harness ,,composition 7,waterproof74 ,,saddle ,,paste 7,waterproof74 ,,jet ,,black ,,oil1 ,for ,harness4 ,,black ,,dye1 ,,for ,,staining ,,harness1 ,and all kinds of ,leather4 ,,waterproof ,,dubbin1 ,for ,boots and ,harness4 ,,breeches ,,powder1 ,for ,cleaning ,hunting ,breeches4 ,,polishing ,,paste1 ,for ,cleaning ,metals and ,glass4 ,s4 ,h4 ,,harris1 #eg1 ,,mansell ,,street1 ,e4 ,h4 ,,peat ,,co41 #agc1 ,,piccadilly1 ,,london1 ,w41 ,,saddlers ,,harness ,,makers ,,to ,,their ,,royal ,,highnesses ,the ,prince of ,wales1 the ,duke of ,edinburgh1 ,her ,majesty's ,cavalry and the ,crown ,agents for the ,colonies4 ,the following advertisements have been moved from the beginning of the book4 ,illustration3 ,silver ,medal ,vienna #ahgc4 ,paris #ahgh4 ,philadelphia #ahgf4 ,,swaine ,,adeney1 ,,whip ,,manufacturers1 ,to ,,the ,,queen1 ,,the ,,prince and ,,princess ,,of ,,wales and the ,,royal ,,family1 #ahe1 ,,piccadilly1 ,,london1 ,w4 ,,whips ,,of ,,every ,,description ,,for ,,riding1 ,,driving1 ,,hunting1 c4 ,,whips ,,mounted ,,in ,,gold ,,and ,,silver1 ,,for ,,presentation1 ,,always ,,on ,,hand4 ,,hunting ,,flasks1 ,,horns1 c4 ,,the ,,new ,,level-,,seat ,,side ,,saddle1 ,,with ,,adjustable ,,third ,,crutch ,,and ,,other ,,improvements1 ,as recommended and used by ,mrs4 ,power ,o',donoghue1 ,authoress of ,,ladies ,,on ,,horseback1 c4 c4 ,this perfect ,side ,saddle is moderate in price1 light and elegant in appearance1 faultless in materials and workmanship1 ensures ease1 comfort1 and security to the rider1 and obviates sore backs with horses4 ,,made ,,to ,,order ,,and ,,measure ,,by ,f4 ,v4 ,,nicholls ,,co41 ,,hunting ,,military ,,saddlers1 ,manufacturers of ,harness1 ,horse ,clothing1 ,whips1 and ,stable ,requisites1 #b1 ,,jermyn ,,street1 ,,haymarket1 ,,london4 ,the ,gentleman's narrow-grip ,brough ,saddle1 any size and weight1 from ,l#g1 complete4 ,the ,gentleman ,rider's ,racing ,saddle1 ,l#c to ,l#d1 complete1 very roomy1 with ,buckskin ,flaps1 c4 ,,the ,,improved ,,newmarket ,,ing ,,guy ,,snaffle ,,bridles1 ,,for ,,pulling ,,horses4 ,branch ,business3 #ah1 ,,artillery ,,place1 ,,woolwich4 ,,rowlands' ,,odonto ,,or ,,pearl ,,dentifrice has been celebrated for more than half a century as the best1 purest1 and most fragrant preparation for the teeth ever made4 ,health depends in a great measure upon the soundness of the teeth1 and all dentists will allow that neither washes nor pastes can possibly be as efficacious for polishing the teeth and keeping them sound and white as a pure and non-gritty tooth-powder2 such ,rowlands' ,odonto has always proved itself to be4 ,great care must be taken to ask for ,,rowlands' ,,odonto1 of #bj1 ,hatton ,garden1 ,london1 and to see that each box bears the #c;d4 ,government ,stamp1 without which no ,,odonto is genuine4 ,,rowlands' ,,macassar ,,oil is universally in high repute for its unprecedented success during the last #hj years in promoting the growth1 restoring1 improving1 and beautifying the human hair4 ,for children it is especially recommended1 as forming the basis of a beautiful head of hair1 while its introduction into the nursery of ,royalty is a sufficient proof of its merits4 ,it is perfectly free from any lead1 mineral1 or poisonous ingredients4 ,,rowlands' ,,kalydor produces a beautiful pure and healthy complexion1 eradicates freckles1 tan1 prickly heat1 sunburn1 c41 and is most cooling and refreshing to the face1 hands1 and arms during hot weather4 ,ask any ,perfumery dealer for ,,rowlands' ,articles1 of #bj1 ,hatton ,garden1 ,london1 and avoid spurious worthless imitations4 ,,messrs4 ,,jay ,have the honour to solicit a visit from the ,beau ,monde to inspect a variety of ,elegant ,silk ,costumes1 ,mantles1 ,artistic ,millinery1 ,hats1 also ,novelties in ,dress1 specially selected in ,paris from the best ,artistes representing the ,fashions of the ,season4 #bdc1 #bde1 #bdg1 #bdi1 #bea1 #bec1 ,regent ,street1 ,w4 ,w4 ,,faulkner1 ,,ladies' ,,gentlemen',s ,,hunting1 ,,shooting1 ,,walking ,,boot ,,maker1 #eb1 ,,south ,,molton ,,street1 ,,bond ,,street1 ,w4 ,manufacturer of the ,celebrated ,edinburgh ,boot ,varnish1 ,blacking1 and ,waterproof ,leather ,dressing4 ,,military ,,boots4 ,the ,bective ,boots and ,shoes to match ,costumes4 ,improved ,flexura ,boots4 ,mountain ,boots4 ,skating ,boots4 ,illustration3 ,a ,boot ,lawn ,tennis ,shoes4 ,oxford ,shoes4 ,slippers to any style4 ,,ladies' ,,riding ,,hunting ,,boots ,,of ,,every ,,description4 ,the ,shape of the ,feet taken and ,lasts ,modelled on the most approved1 anatomical principles1 and kept exclusively for each customer4 ,w4 ,,faulkner begs most respectfully to call the attention of ,ladies and ,gentlemen to the ,,boot ,,tree ,branch4 ,boot ,trees assist to keep the boots in proper shape1 preventing them from wrinkling and shrinking after they have been worn in the wet2 they can be cleaned better1 and do not require so much blacking1 thereby preventing the deleterious effect produced by its frequent application4 ,lasts and ,boot ,trees of every description ,manufactured on the ,premises4 ,ladies residing in the ,country can have ,boots or ,boot ,trees sent their exact size by forwarding an ,old ,boot by ,post4 ,to ,h4,r4,h4 ,,princess ,,christian4 ,,sykes1 ,,josephine1 ,,co4 ,,corsets4 #bhj1 ,,regent ,,street1 ,,london1 ,,and #ef;,a1 ,,old ,,steyne1 ,,brighton4 ,,riding ,,corsets ,,of ,,every ,,description ,,made ,,to ,,order4 ,,manufactories ,,rue ,,rambuteau1 ,,paris4 ,,great ,,castle ,,street1 ,,london4 ,,how ,,to ,,ride ,,and ,,school ,a ,,horse ,,by ,e4 ,l4 ,,anderson4 ,crown #hvo4 ,price1 #bs4 #f;d4 ,it requires the study of only a very few pages of this book to convince the reader that the author thoroughly understands his subject4--,illustrated ,sporting and ,dramatic ,news4 ,concise1 practical directions for riding and training1 by which the pupil may become his own master4--,land and ,water4 ,a useful and carefully-written volume4--,sporting ,times4 ,it is sensible and practical4--,whitehall ,review4 ,we cordially commend this book4--,indian ,daily ,news4 ,the work is a good riding-master's book1 with no superfluous words1 and with plain1 straightforward directions throughout4 ,the chapter on ',the ,walk and the ,trot' seems to us especially practical and good4--,farmer4 ,goes straight to the core of the subject1 and is throughout replete with sound sense4--,home ,news4 ,cannot fail to be of service to the young equestrian1 while it contains many hints that may be advantageously borne in mind by experienced riders4--,scotsman4 ,mr4 ,anderson gives good practical advice1 and we commend the work to the attention of our readers4--,live ,stock ,journal4 ,london3 ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,co41 #ac ,waterloo ,place4 ,,the ,,illustrated ,,horse ,,doctor ,being an ,accurate and ,detailed ,account1 accompanied by more than #djj ,pictorial ,representations1 characteristic of the various ,diseases to which the ,equine ,race are subjected2 together with the latest ,mode of ,treatment1 and all the requisite ,prescriptions written in ,plain ,english4 ,by ,,edward ,,mayhew1 ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s4 #hvo41 #ahs4 #f;d4 ,,contents4--,the ,brain and ,nervous ,system4--,the ,eyes4--,the ,mouth4--,the ,nostrils4--,the ,throat4--,the ,chest and its contents4-- ,the ,stomach1 ,liver1 c4--,the ,abdomen4--,the ,urinary ,organs4--,the ,skin4--,specific ,diseases4--,limbs4--,the ,feet4--,injuries4--,operations4 ,the book contains nearly #fjj pages of valuable matter1 which reflects great credit on its author1 and1 owing to its practical details1 the result of deep scientific research1 deserves a place in the library of medical1 veterinary1 and non-professional readers4--,field4 ,the book furnishes at once the bane and the antidote1 as the drawings show the horse not only suffering from every kind of disease1 but in the different stages of it1 while the alphabetical summary at the end gives the cause1 symptoms and treatment of each4--,illustrated ,london ,news4 ,,illustrated ,,horse ,,management4 ,containing ,descriptive ,remarks upon ,anatomy1 ,medicine1 ,shoeing1 ,teeth1 ,food1 ,vices1 ,stables2 likewise a plain account of the situation1 nature1 and value of the various points2 together with comments on grooms1 dealers1 breeders1 breakers1 and trainers4 ,embellished with more than #djj engravings from original designs made expressly for this work4 ,by ,e4 ,,mayhew4 ,a ,new ,edition1 ,revised and ,improved1 #hvo41 #abs41 ,by ,j4 ,i4 ,,lupton1 ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s4 ,,contents3--,the body of the horse anatomically considered4 ,physic4 --,the mode of administering it1 and minor operations4 ,shoeing4-- ,its origin1 its uses1 and its varieties4 ,the ,teeth4--,their natural growth1 and the abuses to which they are liable4 ,food4--,the fittest time for feeding1 and the kind of food which the horse naturally consumes4 ,the evils which are occasioned by modern stables4 ,the faults inseparable from stables4 ,the so-called incapacitating vices1 which are the results of injury or of disease4 ,stables as they should be4 ,grooms4--,their prejudices1 their injuries1 and their duties4 ,points4--,their relative importance1 and where to look for their development4 ,breeding4--,its inconsistencies and its disappointments4 ,breaking and ,training4--,their errors and their results4 ,,london3 ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,co41 #ac ,,waterloo ,,place4 ,,selection ,,from ,w4 ,h4 ,allen ,co4's ,catalogue4 ,,sketches ,,from ,,nipal4 ,historical and ,descriptive1 with ,anecdotes of ,court ,life and ,wild ,sports of the country in the ,time of ,maharaja ,jang ,bahadur1 ,g4,c4,b4 ,with ,illustrations of ,religious ,monuments1 ,architecture1 and ,scenery1 from the ,author's own ,drawings4 ,by the late ,,henry ,,ambrose ,,oldfield1 ,m4,d41 many years ,residency ,surgeon at ,khatmandu1 ,nipal4 #b vols4 #hvo41 #cfs4 ,the work is full of facts1 intelligently observed and faithfully recorded4--,saturday ,review4 ,we have nothing but unqualified praise for the manner in which ,dr4 ,oldfield's manuscript has been edited and published by his relatives4 ,the sketches have just claims to rank very high amongst the standard works on the ,kingdoms of ,high ,asia4--,spectator4 ,,records ,,of ,,sport ,,and ,,military ,,life ,,in ,,western ,,india4 ,by the late ,lieutenant-,colonel ,g4 ,t4 ,,fraser1 formerly of the #ast ,bombay ,fusiliers1 and more recently attached to the ,staff of ,h4,m4's ,indian ,army4 ,with an ,introduction by ,colonel ,g4 ,b4 ,,malleson1 ,c4,s4,i4 ,crown #hvo41 #gs4 #f;d4 ,the style is free from humbug and affectation1 and none of the stories are incredible4444 ,some of the anecdotes about the early life of ,outram confirm the opinion of that gallant officer held by his contemporaries4--,saturday ,review4 ,records his experience in a very simple and unaffected manner1 and he has stirring stories to tell4--,spectator4 ,,thirteen ,,years ,,among ,,the ,,wild ,,beasts ,,of ,,india2 ,,their ,,haunts ,,and ,,habits4 ,from ,personal ,observation2 with an account of the ,modes of ,capturing and ,taming ,wild ,elephants4 ,by ,g4 ,p4 ,,sanderson1 ,officer in ,charge of the ,government ,elephant ,keddahs at ,mysore4 ,with #ba full-page ,illustrations and ,three ,maps4 ,second ,edition4 ,fcp4 #dto4 ,l#a #es4 ,,latchford ,,willson1 #aa1 ,,upper ,,st4 ,,martin',s ,,lane1 ,,london1 ,w4,c41 ,by ,appointment to ,,her ,,majesty1 ,h4,r4,h4 ,,the ,,prince ,,of ,,wales1 c4 c4 ,,makers ,,of ,,all ,,kinds ,,of ,,bridle-,,bits1 ,,stirrups1 ,,spurs4 ,,all ,,modern ,,fashions1 ,,army ,,regulations1 c4 ,,the ,,loriner3 ,latchford on ,bridle-bits and the ,bitting of ,horses4 ,illustrated1 #gs4 ,,prize ,,medal1 ,,paris4 ,just ,published1 ,price #bs4 #f;d41 ,a ,,system ,,of ,,school ,,training ,,for ,,horses4 ,by ,e4 ,l4 ,,anderson1 ,,author ,,of ,,how ,,to ,,ride ,,and ,,school ,a ,,horse4 ,he is well worthy of a hearing4--,bell's ,life4 ,there is no reason why the careful reader should not be able1 by the help of this little book1 to train as well as ride his horse4--,land and ,water4 ,each successive stage of the school system is carefully traced1 and anyone accustomed to the management of horses will therefore be able to follow and appreciate the value of ,mr4 ,anderson's kindly method of training4--,daily ,chronicle4 ,london3 ,w4 ,h4 ,,allen ,,co41 #ac ,waterloo ,place4 ,,house6 ,,stable6 ,,field6 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,elastic ,,waterproof ,,polish1 for ,hunting1 ,shooting1 and ,fishing ,boots2 also for ,ladies' and ,gentlemen's ordinary ,walking ,boots and ,shoes4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,brown ,,boot-,,top ,,fluid1 for restoring ,brown ,top-,boots to their original colour2 also a ,cream for ,polishing1 making them equal to new4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,breeches ,,paste1 for softening and preserving ,hunting ,breeches1 ,gloves1 c4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,boot-,,top ,,powders1 of various colours1 ,white1 ,pink1 ,rose ,pink1 ,straw1 ,salmon1 ,natural1 ,flesh1 ,cream1 ,drab1 ,melton ,brown1 three colours of ,brown1 all of the newest description4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,liquid ,,shoe ,,blacking1 the best in the world for softening1 preserving1 and superior brilliancy4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,waterproof ,,harness ,,blacking requires neither ,oil nor ,dye4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,newly-invented ,,paste1 for ,harness1 ,patent and ,enamelled ,leathers4 ,this preparation does not wash off1 it renders the leather soft1 and produces a polish superior to any of its kind in existence4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,plate ,,powder1 for ,cleansing and ,restoring ,plate1 ,brass1 and ,metals of every description4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,saddle ,,paste1 for ,softening1 ,preserving1 and ,beautifying ,saddles1 ,bridles1 and every description of ,brown ,leather1 c4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,metropolitan ,,polish4 ,this article is used for ,ladies' and ,gentlemen's ,patent1 ,enamel1 ,bronze ,glace1 ,morocco1 ,kid ,boots and ,shoes1 producing a superior polish4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,patent ,,kid ,,reviver1 for cleaning ,black ,kid ,boots and ,shoes1 making them equal to new1 also for reviving all kinds of ,black1 ,blue1 and ,dark ,silks1 removes grease spots4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,ne ,,plus ,,ultra ,,raven ,,jet ,,french ,,varnish1 for ,ladies' and ,gentlemen's ,evening ,dress and ordinary ,walking ,boots and ,shoes1 producing a most brilliant polish1 warranted not to crack or soil the finest ,cambric4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,brass ,,paste produces a fine polish upon ,brass1 ,copper1 ,tin1 ,pewter1 ,britannia ,metal1 ,coach ,glasses1 and ,windows4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,waterproof ,,pouch ,,paste1 for ,pouches1 ,belts1 ,straps1 ,knapsacks1 ,canteen ,coverings1 ,boots1 ,leggings c4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,embrocation ,,for ,,horses ,,and ,,cattle1 gives immediate relief in all cases of ,lameness1 ,sore ,throat1 ,influenza1 and ,rheumatism4 ,w4 ,,clark',s ,,patent ,,horse ,,clippers4 ,illustration3 ,no4 #a4 ,has been before the ,public for #ab years1 giving the greatest satisfaction1 the cheapest and best in the market4 ,illustration3 ,no4 #b ,a one-handed ,machine for ,heads1 ,ears1 ,necks1 ,quarters1 ,stomachs1 ,stifle1 and all difficult parts2 also extensively used in cutting the human hair in hot climates1 where it is required to be cut close4 ,,saddlery1 ,,harness1 ,,horse ,,clothing c4 ,saddlers by ,appointment4 ,,urch ,,co41 7,,established #ahce17 #hd1 ,,long ,,acre1 ,,london1 ,w4,c4 ,,manufacturers ,,of ,,every ,,description ,,of ,,saddlery1 ,,harness1 c4 ,,wholesale ,,and ,,retail4 ,a ,,large ,,assortment ,,always ,,kept ,,in ,,stock4 ,,urch and ,,co4',s ,,patent ,,double ,,spring ,,bar for ,releasing the ,stirrup ,leather when thrown1 can be seen at the above establishment in working order4 ,by ,appointment to ,h4,m4 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,england4 ,by ,appointment to ,h4,m4 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,denmark4 ,,redfern1 ,,ladies' ,,tailors1 ,by ,special ,appointments ,to ,h4,r4,h4 ,,the ,,princess ,,of ,,wales and ,h4,i4,h4 ,,the ,,empress ,,of ,,russia1 #bf1 ,,conduit ,,street1 ,bond ,street1 ,london1 ,w4 ,,specialities-- ,,riding ,,habits1 ,from specially prepared ,melton ,cloths1 c4 ,,john ,,redfern and ,,sons would particularly draw the attention of ,ladies to their ,improvements in the cut of ,riding ,habit ,skirts1 on the proper set of which depends the whole effect of the ,habit4 ,these improvements1 while maintaining a tight1 well-fitting appearance1 give perfect comfort and safety to the rider4 ,,driving ,,coats1 ,from ,waterproofed ,box-,cloths1 ,faced ,cloths1 ,tweeds1 c4 ,these1 together with ,j4 ,r4 and ,son's ,improved ,newmarket ,coats1 will be found most useful for driving to meet and for constant wear4 ,branch ,businesses at ,cowes1 ,isle of ,wight1 and #bdb1 ,rue de ,rivoli 7,place de la ,concorde71 ,paris4 ,the most noted ,firm of ,ladies' ,tailors in the world1 and1 be it said1 the most original4--,extract from ,court ,journal4 ,by ,appointment to ,h4,m4 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,england4 ,by ,appointment to ,h4,m4 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,denmark4 ,,redfern1 ,,ladies' ,,tailors1 ,by ,special ,appointments ,,to ,h4,r4,h4 ,,the ,,princess ,,of ,,wales ,,and ,h4,i4,h4 ,,the ,,empress ,,of ,,russia1 #bf1 ,,conduit ,,street1 ,,bond ,,street1 ,,london1 ,w4 ,,speciality-- ,,yachting ,,travelling ,,gowns4 999999 ,from original ,colourings in ,cloth and ,serge1 c4 ,the ,firm personally superintend every order1 and a perfect fit is guaranteed4 ,n4,b4--,on the occasion of the visit to ,england of ,h4,s4,h4 the ,princess ,helena of ,waldeck1 in ,march #ahhb1 ,john ,redfern and ,sons had the honour of making for ,her ,serene ,highness4 ,on the visit of ,h4,i4,m4 the ,empress ,eugenie1 accompanied by the late ,napoleon ,,iii41 ,j4 ,r4 and ,sons had a similar honour4 ,on the visit of ,h4,i4,h4 the ,crown ,princess of ,germany1 ,j4 ,r4 and ,sons had the honour of making for ,her ,imperial ,highness and all the ,princesses4 ,on the visit to the ,queen of ,t4,r4,h4 the ,princesses of ,hesse ,darmstadt1 ,j4 ,r4 and ,sons had the honour of making for their ,royal ,highnesses4 ,on the visit to ,her ,majesty of the ,daughters of ,h4,r4,h4 the late ,princess ,alice1 ,j4 ,r4 and ,sons had a similar honour4 ,branch ,businesses at ,cowes1 ,isle of ,wight1 and #bdb1 ,rue de ,rivoli 7,place de la ,concorde71 ,paris4 ,the most noted ,firm of ,ladies' ,tailors in the world1 and1 be it said1 the most original4--,extract from ,court ,journal4 ,,ladies' ,,riding ,,boots4 ,,established #ahci4 ,n4 ,,thierry1 ,,established #ahci4 ,,ladies' ,,and ,,gentlemen',s ,,boot ,,shoe ,,manufacturer1 ,,london1 #gj ,,quadrant1 ,,regent ,,street1 ,w41 ,,and #dh1 ,,gresham ,,street1 ,e4,c4 ,,manchester1 #b1 ,st4 ,ann's ,sq42 ,,liverpool1 #e1 ,bold ,st4 ,complete ,illustrated ,price ,lists ,post ,free4 ,illustration3 ,,ladies' ,,riding ,,boot1 #ejs41 all ,patent or with ,morocco ,legs4 ,,no ,,inferior ,,articles ,,kept4 ,,all ,,goods ,,warranted ,,and ,,marked ,,in ,,plain ,,figures4 ,,the ,,largest ,,stock ,,of ,,best ,,quality ,,goods ,,in ,,england ,,always ,,ready4 #bf1jjj ,,pairs ,,to ,,choose ,,from4 ,illustration3 ,,ladies' ,,newmarket ,,riding ,,boot1 ,cloth legs1 #ejs4 ,,note4--,to order1 #bs4 per pair extra for fitting and keeping special lasts4 ,,ladies' ,,spurs1 ,silver ,plate1 ,strap1 ,buckle complete1 #is1 #f;d4 ,,price ,,list of a few ,leading ,articles1 ,ladies' ,department3-- ,,boots4 ,button or ,lace #ags4 #j;d4 ,do4 do4 ,hessians1 from #ais4 #f;d4 ,do4 do4 ,cork ,clumps #bds4 #j;d4 ,do4 ,high ,glace ,louis ,,xv4 ,heels #bgs4 #bis4 ,,shoes4 ,oxford ,tie1 ,morocco #ads4 #j;d4 ,do4 do4 ,glace #afs4 #j;d4 ,do4 ,richelieu1 ,louis ,,xv4 ,heels #bcs4 #j;d4 ,patent ,court ,heels and ,bows #hs4 #f;d4 ,glace ,kid1 ,embroidered4 #aas4 #f;d4 ,a ,,great ,,variety of very ,fashionable ,ladies' ,dress ,shoes in ,glace ,kid or ,satin 7various ,colours71 ,embroidered ,jet1 ,gold1 ,steel1 or ,bijou4 ,a ,,large ,,assortment ,,of ,,children',s ,,boots ,,and ,,shoes1 ,,and ,,every ,,variety ,,of ,,gents' ,,riding1 ,,walking1 ,,dress ,,boots ,,shoes4 ,goods sent on approval on receipt of satisfactory references 7a ,london tradesman preferred71 or cheque for the amount4 ,an old boot or shoe should be sent as a guide for size1 paper patterns and other measurements being of little use4 ,goods that do not suit will be exchanged or the money returned4 ,,five ,,per ,,cent4 ,,discount ,,for ,,cash4 ,,please ,,note--#gj1 ,,regent ,,street ,,quadrant1 as there is another house of the same ,surname in the street4