Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-09
HINTS TO THE LADIES.
How to Ride ON Horseback Grace.
fully and Well.
Advice as TO Horses and Their
Treatment.
gA II, / |. 4 II. |. T.,It,,1,Il.l,sl H

else of horseback riding again become
possible. AS it is every year becoming
more fashionable, the following hint
will help many who are novices in tn
art of managing horse, and some VIII
think they know all about it. III
There are few prettier sights than fai
equestrians, provided they know how t,
ride; and, although it seems paradoxica
to say so, yet it is not every fair eques
trian who can ride. No lady can use
spur without damaging her habit NOR
than her horse. Extreme neatness j
the desideratum in riders make up
No tr.-,.
FLYING RIBB0NS OR FEATHERS,
but plainly made, well-ftting cloth habit
With white linen collar and cuffs, fast
ened without ribbon or color, unless j
be of a silk handkerchief round tn,
throat. A top hat with lace veil, foi
use as well as ornament, twisted rounC
it and over the hair, black gloves, anC
nothing can look better than any lady
when so attired. d
Your horse is at the door, and now
comes the tug of war You have got to
arrive at the top Of fifteen, it may be
sixteen hands. Puzzling as the per
formance appears as you stand on the
ground by his side, and the monster
towers above you, nothing but knack is
wanted. Do not he in hurry. Place
the right hand firmly on the left pommel,
and the left hand firmly on the squire s
or servants shoulder. Stand steadily
on the right hand. Wait one minute,
until you are both sure the other is
ready, and if you spring at the moment
that
HE LIFTS THE HAND,
you are mounted gracefully, without an
appearance even of difficulty 1t is
quite unnecessary to send mans hat
flying into the road, or to put your
knees into his eyes; nor need he grasp
you fast, as if you were sack of flour
fixed to a jointed crane, while you
clutch and scrabble up your saddle as if
you were climbing the side of a man-of-
war out Of cuddy boat. Nothing can
be more inelegant.
People think they cannot help it, and
rather than look so ridiculous they have
a chair or step brought and get on for
themselves. 1t is much better to get on
properly; besides that, when you do,
your habit is properly placed and set
straight Once mounted, take up your
reins, and have your stirrup long
enough; that is, have it so long that
the leg is almost straight before the
toe can reach it. Be sure all is right;
then let your horse slip off quietly.
Nothing is sign of worse riding than
HURRY AND FLUTTER t.
to get off in. a grand combination, like
froth, that subsidies into hatness very
soon. Sit square, the right. knee point
ing in a straight nebetween the horses
ears ride on a snaflie il you use a
double rein bride, reserying the curb for
emergencies, and treat your horse SEN
sibly; he will appreciate it. If he is a
good one his'good qualities will be drawn
into notice; and the worst animal, with
rational treatment, shows the best he is
capable Of Trotting is the pace at
which horse and rider show to the best
advantage Any old screw can cahter;
but not every horse can trot well, nor
rider rise to it )" If he cam Rise to
your trot straight forward, without stoop-
ing, keeping the action of your body
with that of your horse, Your position
should always be as if your eyes were
fixed between the horses ears. Some
people ride quite independently Of the
horse's action, and having got their
weight off the saddle on to their left leg
they lEEGM El82l4uA
STAND IN THEIR sTIRRUPs,
and only preserve their equilibrium, and
get back into the saddle by sort of
twist, which has the appearance of the
part of eoFkscrew that is turning in the
cork. When this movement is apparent,
we may know that fast trot would be
q possible. Should the pace increase,
the rider would find it hopeless to try
and screw back, therefore she would
cease to rise, and the sudden Tightening |
Of the rein breaks the trOt into a canter,
and the most beautiful action OF the |
horse is lost. The art of riding is in the |
hand 4 horse walks, trots or gallops, |
his worst or bis best, according to the
he receives. Keep the left
knee slightly pressed to the saddle, and
-ise from it by the muscular action of the
limb from the knee to the waist, rather
han give pressure of the foot in the
gtirrup. The stirrup is intended rather
o rsgt the leg than for anything else.
A spur IS never needed There is
10 horse that woman cannotride with
,ut one that she will be better able to get
IN with by having a spur. Try and let
. horse know what you want him to do
md ia liae cases out of ten, if you can
10 this, he will do what is required much
etter for himself than you can teach
i'm. Usually the driver is uncertain,
rst, what ho wants done; then, often,
specially if leaping is intended.
HER COURAGE FAILS HER,
er nervousness Is instantly oommuni-
ated to the hOrse-the reins are more
conductors than any tele- j
raph wires ever could be; and then he /
blamed, when thus hurried and con- {
lsed, for misunderstanding and blunder- l
u through what, if left to himself, he '
ould have done perfectly WELL Always l
aye both hands ready for the reins, so l
Iat at ssg moment, by taking them one |
each hand, the iaost perfect control is '
Dtained. A horse cannot turn f yng S
eep his head straight, the hand low,
nd the whip held upward across the
der's 5 knees. 1t is then ready, without I
iiiicuity, Cor instantly striking the horse !
n either shoulder or aank, as may be I
eeded. A whip should not be carried !
II ornament but use. aud should never
,uch horse but in ehastisement I'm I
IS Il be carried upright in this way. il ,
impossible TO ayoid its constantly tick
ng the right flank This distracts a ;
,stive horse, and the most nnimpressi-
e acquire a kind Of motion which is !
sry ugly.
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