The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-21
LADIES, AND THEIR WEIGHT IN
THE SADDLE.

Very few ladies have any idea of what weight
they are when on horseback, and it hardly ever
occurs to a lady to inquire whether the horse
she is going to ride is really, as tits termed "up
to her weight" correspondent writes to an
English paper:-"l must say tina ladies are in
general, very easily pleased in regard to the
style of animal destined for their use, and If the
horse they are going to mount has the character
of being quiet, carries his head high, and his
tail is of the usual length and he has the proper
number of legs, they are perfectly satisfied that
they are going TO have pleasant ride, and they
do not enter INTO any minute criticism as to
the shape or action of the animal, upon both
of which points so much of the comfort
and safety of the fair equestrian depend.
And here l cannot help remarking, th at gen
tlemen seem to me to have little or no hesita-
tioD in allowing their female relatives to mount
horses that they would, in their own pers ons,
be very unwilling TO ride; and can now see, in
my minds eye, young lady who trots and gal
lops past me in Rotten-row, on bay, thorough
bred looking horse, whose fOrelegs seem tied
together, whose shoulders are almost perpen-
diCular, and whose fetlocks are nearly upright,
and will venture to say that neither her father
or brother II she has either, would willingly
mount him for a ten-mile ride along a road
with the slightest expectation of arriving safe
at the end. 10 watch That horse hoo0lmg along
at a walk is very painful, but in the canter or
gallop his defective action 10 not so Conspicu-
ous as he makes great flourish ; but when
anything does happen to that young lady, the
catastrophe will be awful; yet she goes up aud
down the ride, in the season. laughing and en-
joying herself in happy ignorance that she is
in continual danger OF about the worst fall that
can occur.
''Few people are at all aware of the weight of
their female friends, till the scales reveal the
secret; and, unless gentleman nas occasion to
assist lady into the saddle or over stiles, he can
form no opinion as to the weight she is, for the
dress COnCeals the figure so much. Women are
heavier than men, IN proportion to their height,
and believe ten stone to be no unusual weight
among ladies of ordinary height and proportion.
A slde-saddie weighs eighteen pounds, and,
with the additional weight of the riding-habit,
hat, whip, boots, etc, we may safely say that
large proportion of the ladies we see on horse
back average nearly twelve stone each but
how seldom do you see ladies mounted, on horses
up to that weight! Ladies' horses are proven
bially called weeds and any leggy, narrow
Cheste1, weak, and quiet tempered animal is
said TO be Just the thing to carry a lady, which
j think is not paying them any great compli-
ment. 90 the contrary, lady's horse ought to
possess the following quail dcatlons among
others, if the fair rider is to be carried IN the
style, with the safety, and at the pace she is
fairly entitled TO, exact from her horse for her
qualification
Q 81. Her horse ought to have good action
I. e., he must bring his hind legs well under
him at every stride, and have the power of
planting his fore feet evenly and smoothly well
tage his own movements, and the elegant figure
and graceful seat of his fair burden.
80. He ought to have a good mouth as,
without that quality, the pleasure of his rider
will be very much curtailed; the fact is, how
ever, that ladies almost always possess that
almost inde6nablc excellence called hand, in q
remarkable degree; aud a horse will go kindly
under a woman, which will prove an ungOyern-
able brute when ridden by man.
SO. Good legs and feet are Indispensable, for
the weight a ladys horse has to carry, and the
pace ladies like TO go, when on horseback, will
soon tell q tale if there is any detect there; and
\ he must, of course, be sound in his wind for the
same reason.
''If the above qualifications requisite for a
lady,s horse are combined with size and strength
to fit him for his work, both horse and rider VII
appear to advantage. And now for word oil
advice. Endeavor to sit as evenly as possible III
the centre of the saddle, and as steadily as you
can without assuming an unnatural stiffness
which would spoil the effect of your appear
ance; and not to shake about in the saddle as L
your heads were only tackled to your shoulders
and YOUR whole bodies were like an ill-mad(
shane of ielIy, always in motion from side tC
side. / do not recommend you to copy Mrs NJ.
who seems to have swallowed the poker; bu
try to acquire graceful ease of movement IL
unison with your horse. You, perhaps have M
idea how much the swaying to and fro OF hi
rider adds to the fatigue ana discomfort of you
horse towards the end OF the days ride-hoW l
occasions the saddle to shift, and, probably
pinch his withers or form raw under the can
tie if it has moved back, and that is very din
cult to heal. Do not touch your horse, how
ever slightly, with your whip, as it only tease
him; but, if necessary, apply it vigorously if h
is obstinate, lazy, or disobedient; and if tn
Whip has not the desired effect immediately
then you cam use your spur, but do not brln
the latter into use unless absolutely required
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