Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1857-02-28
Qbe polpuesiau.
RIDING...RRIDLES.

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In making few remarks on this subject, most
important one to the safety and comfort of the n
der, must prelude the doing so by saying that
vast deal of this safety and comfort are, 10 use
hgurative expression, "Iterally in the riders own
hands," As well might expect to make trip to
the More in safety and pleasantly in vessel under
my own direction, as a man to ride with the pros
pect of either if he has bad hands. We use the
term ''hands" only from habit but it must be eyi
dent that at times the arms are also called on TO
act in unison with the hands.
Were a man with such to ask me what kind Of
bit / should recommend bis using, should indu-
bitably not consider what sort of bit would suit the
horses mouth, but the one that would suit the
mans hands. By this mean, should not recom-
mend the sort of bit that would suit the horse If
ridden by man with good hands, but the kind
with which he would be the least punished and
confused, ridden by a man with, as we technically
say, mo hands" at ALL The bride with which, 10
the first case, he would go pleasantly and grace
fully, would in the latter become neither more or
less than instrument of torture under the effects
of which he could go neither pleasantly, gracefully
or even safely 10 himself or rider.
One would naturally suppose that any man in
the habit of riding would be anxious to acquire
necessary part of horsema nslnp good hands.
Daily observation however, shows that It is not so,
and this inattentOn or indifference arises IRON va
rous causes. The first is, the man knows nothing
about hands, consequently does not know that he
has bad ones; again, if he does know this as he
merely rides animal for health and exercise and
having found one who has no more mouth than his
master has hands, the latter has probably found
himself safely enough carried and wants no more.
There are two specimens of this sort of rider
that will particularise. The one is q gentleman
frequently see riding up Constitution Hill, some
times with lady. He mostly is seen in good
long trot, his body obliquey on his horse, his brl-
dle-arm and left shoulder forward, and his right
arm working like the piston of steam-engine, his
whole person more or less acted on by the working
of his right propeller. Could mortal teach this
man hands? The horse he rides Is so used to have
his mouth lugged at that doubtless il is matter al
Indifference to him what sort of bride h. has in IT,
and his master probably thinks as regards effect all
brides are alike. 1t would be cruelty TO both
horse and man to give this gentleman ine-mouth-
cd animal to ride, or bride that would make Im-
preston on the mouth of the horse he uses.
The next specimen is a gentleman who works
both legs as energetcally as the other does his
right arm. So, as far as his legs concerned he
works away as strenuously as If he was running
seven miles an hour. This | suppose he calls
horse exercise; it is far better-it combines the
exercise of the pedestrian with the quicker pro-
gression of the horse he rides The gentleman
leans good deal forward, his bridle-hand resting
Oh uOIeC VI 0cCK. Dy W0dI
word, signal, or talismanic touch he stops guides
his horse | know not, but certainly not with the
bride.
How are such men to know how far or how
much they vary from others: They have probably
hitherto got on safely, and have got to the place
where they wanted to go; they have no large
looklng-glass to show them the grotesque figures
they cut in the eyes of other persons, and no one
will tell them of it. And supposing they did, it
would be thought they greatly exaggerated the
thing. They would give lasting offence without
producing even incipient good.
vast deal of badness of hands arises from bad
ness of seat. No man can have fine or delicate
hand on his horse unless his seat is firm and steady
As we'll might matchmaker attempt to set watch
while seated in American rocking chair in full
motion
AS the subject of this article is not one of nv
own choosing. but is written at the suggestion of
another, must be excused if treat more on hands
than bridles-my object being to show that they
will neutralize the effects of the most appropriate
bit, while at the same time they would ruin the
finest mouth.
should say could mention at least twenty DIFF |
ferent sorts of brides. all most of them good for
certain horses; but if | did, cm bonol The horse
man knows them as well as do; he also knows
the kind of mouth each would suit. The man who !
is not horseman would be no wiser from my men |
tioning Chifney's jointed mouth-pieces, gag-snaf-
fles, &c.-names he never heard of; and their |
uses he OF course cannot understand. The man |
with bad hands could not make use of such brides,
he would be no better off from the |
being informed there were such.
II man pays my judgment the compliment of
asking what description of bride | would recon-
mend for horse that throws his head up, could
not expect he would say 81 have what you would .
call 'no hands, consequently my horse, to avoid |
The punishment of the bit my hands, such as they
are, occasion him, throws up his head" Such,
however, suspect would be about the fair way of "
stating the case.
Supposing he was candid enough to state this.
should first inquire, Has your horse good mouth
that Is, tender one, which, from his throwing up
his head, | suspect is the case? Is his mouth,
temper and disposition such that curb-bit can be ,
dispensed with? IF it is, ride your horse by all
means IN plain snaffle and martingal (not a nose
onel. If he requires curb, use an easy one, and
only make use OF 1t occasionally. ] would strong
y recommend all men with bad hands to use mar
ingals not exactly to keep the horse s head docn
put TO counteract the effect of their hands getting
Up, which is nearly always the practice with bad
riders, unless, indeed, in the case have mention
ID of the gentleman who keeps his hand on the
lorse's withers. | recommend martlngas because
With it matters little where the hands are they
cannot affect the horses mouth so far as respects
he elevating or lowering of the head. All they
AN do is to use such force in pulling the reins that
he horse cannot (and should say would show his
.ood sense if he refused toy advance. Probably
he rider would take such "hint direct" and mod !
rate his pull at the rens.
Hands may be considered the refinement of horse ,
nanship, without which no man has any preten-
ions to the character of horseman he may ride II
oldIy and sit fast, this he would learn if as boy
e had been kicked few times off jackass This ID
oes not make him a horseman. The difference |
etween riders, hold to be-the one sits on the r
ack of horse, crossing country in such form