Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-28
HORSEBACK IN WINTER.
OIL an answer to a Letter OF Inquir
from an Invalid

u
IRON an Invalid.
hOIseDack riding is far more important to
'ne neaith In winter than in summer. but il
requires some little taking of pains to make it
comfortable. Perhaps a hint or two from my
own experience my be of use to you; hints
should have been very glad to have received
from any one, myself, in the beginning. The
resolution l made, three winters agO, to let no
state of the weather, and no degree Of c"ld,
prevent my daily trot of ten or twelve miles,
was difficult to adhere to. at first. but, by per-
sistent practice, | have contriyed away the in
cOnyenlences, TILL at present it Is to me by fsr
the days most exhilerating luxury. Without
the glow of perspiratiOn, indeed, into which,
every afternoon between 3 o'clock and ), |
work myself, ON horseback, do not think l
could remain we'll; and / am sure / should not
be a twentieth part as happy. How others
(those, at least. who nre getting old, as l ann
do without this daily glove-stretcher to the in
door contraction of spirits, cannot imagine
But-tO particulars.
Ii was by mere accident | discovered where
we feel the cold most sensibly. temporary
inflammation Of the eyes led me to guard
against the glare of the snow by pair of green
goggles; and for the week that wore them,
though it chanced to be the severest one of the
winter, | was strangely relieved of suscepti-
bility to the sharp wind. On removing the
goggles, with the disappearance Of the disease,
L found that my temporary indifference az to
which way the blast blew, was quite gone; and
zero, as before, was no trife if driven into my
eyes on north wind. 1t was the delicate eye
Id. | found. that was by far the most sensitive
portion Of the body; the rest of the face being
comparatively Indifferent to cold. So more
than merely local is the protection of goggles,
IN fact, that, to wear them or not seems to me,
now. like the difference of riding in close or
an open carriage. Ladies would fud them a
most essentiOn comfort. As an addition to their
toggery for sleighride. With driving
snVH or sleet, Of course, such guard for the
eyes is additionally important.
As 10 mlI-winter clothing, for the saddle
l have simply put on me as much as found
required, though it is only for the first mile
or n brisk ride that one is likely to feel at all
cold In the body or limbs High India rub
Der boots, large enough for thick stockings.
protect the feet from the chill of stepping into
the snow, and loose pair of corduroy overalls
rr hOrseman5 trousers, shelter sufficiently the
legs and lOins. For the arms I borrow an
article from the children-drawing on, from
wrist to elbow, pair of the wOrsted 'leggings'
they manufacture for the little girls. Thick
mittenS instead of gloves, a wrapper tied close
around the neck, short box coat, and a cap
that laps over the ears, complete costume
which, with the exercise. makes even the in
valid hOrseInan comfortable as may be-
You will have discovered, of course that YOU
cannot have uninterrupted winter-riding. with
horse shOd la the ordinary way. The sharp
points of frozen mud will wound the frog of the
foot. and, with snow on the ground. the hollow
hoof soon collects a hard ball which makes the
footing very insecure. Both these evils are
renedied by piece of sole leather nailed on
under the shOe-a protection to the hOOf which
makes surprising difference in the confidence
ami sure-fOOtedneSs of the animals step.
have always been very grateful to the Roxbury
man who first suggested this, in letter to the
editor OF the New England Farmer, and here
give nlm our two winters of thanksmy mare
hlttyS and my own.
There is another little discovery that has oc-
caslonally saved my mind from nervous antici-
PatonS, and 1t may as well he added to invalid
h"rSe-knowleige, though it is very possibly
known ts experienced jockeys-(is or ought to
e]-I refer TO prevention for being thrown
ever horses head. After standing three or
ionr day. In the stable, as will sometimes hap
pen IN winter, a spirited animal is yery ant TO
feel more erceiSiOr behind than before. A
beaufIful young carriage horse at least. that
rude Tor while when Kitty was lame would
neither rear nor plunge; but he seemed to
mink that there was no getting up a sufficient
ho.e OF admiration to express his pleasure at
going out, unless plumb line would drop
i'"i1 MS heels to his muzZle-an inverted per
Pendlc"iar lncOnvenent for the rider to coin
eide IN, especially with the encumbrance of
eX'ra clothing and heavy boots In Hffing
ms Hf~|S, however, IL observed. while being
mus playtully split horse must first lo..eT
ms "SHH-a mechanical necessity that is ep-
rire!y defeated, of course, by check rein fast
"hlng the bit to the pOmmel of the saddle Ii
you IKE 10 have this extra rein unnoticeable e
~ ~eil as reliable, you can use q common fiji
dle-Sfring (Inade black by dipping into ink J
ana this hardly visible cord passing through
the check-rein grooves under his ears will
chectualIy keep head up and heels down. The
harness maker, of course must first Sew n
SPring-clasp to your saddle To receive it. and
you can use your own judgment us to unsip-
p'nS II when the kick-up superfuity Of spirits
J. trOttcd of
L have modified my theory somewhat as 70
the saddles suflcing for exercise altogether.
III Is important (say the physiOlOgistsl that the
invalid. and especially the one whose brain il
oyerwOrksd, should be spared all fatigue: and
hence the use of horse, who does the work
LOT you while your system is shaken up But
nave found that some little walking. say two
miles day, was necessary, besides. The lungs
need 1T, and 80 do certain forces about the
,Msli ,;ai OF the back which are uncslled upon in
tho 10 bundle up and take run out into
is for therefore. just before going to bed,
noon's e an essential addition to the after
But tbsyy. exeitement in the saddle.
which is we'll vor,, ,eye-water in winter riding.
keeps the wo,,a to the s aePaessed
snce of i.ndscs~oss looking beautiful Tss's The s.
erIng in sleigh, or by sno1hy hoy one man shiy-
War harm and Inspirited with a sna man slOwingly
hln' Is the difference between nne horse under
and hateful one. The variat;onnaa onnaappy world
tpers .s are priceless additions to ones ~ snow
seem EiaS chilli. III scenery and los. altogether IF
10 slack rein occasionally, in fas, ,,o, .nuon
oA win warm loiter about you, is N l no
amiIlar with the world as a place for vh;oP
iou are more willing to want healtb-to ~
ns,e, In fact, medicine of coptentmant ~ -.
will be half your cure. u'men' tina,
Home Journal. WILLIS