South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-05-12
Miscellaneous.
Hints to Lady Equestrians.


WITH the advent of the bright sprin.
days, the delightful and healthful exercisi
OF horseback riding again becomes posi-
BILE. As it is every year becoming mort
fashionable, the following hints will hell
many who are novices in the art of man
aging horse, ard some who think they
know all about il.
There are few prettier sights than fail
equestrians, provided they know how tc
ride; and, although it seems paradoxical
to say so, yet it is not every fair eaues-
trian who can ride. No lady can use 8
spur without damaging her habit more
than her horse. Extreme neatness is the
desideratum in a riders makeup. Nc
flying ribbons or feathers, but a plainly
made, well-ftting cloth habit, with white
linen collar and cuffs, fastened without rib
bon or color, unless it be of silk hand.
kerchief round the throat. A top hat
with lace veil, for use as well as orna.
ment, twisted round it and over the hair
black gloves, and nothing can look better
than any lady when so attired
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 six.
teen hands. Puzzling as the performance
appears as you stand on the ground by his
side, and the monsters towers above YOU,
nothing but knack is wanted. Do not be
in hurry. Place the right hand firmly
on the left pommel and the left hand firm
ly on the squire's or servants shoulder
Stand steadily on the right leg, and place
the left foot in his right hand. Wait one
minute, until you are both sure the other
is ready, and if you spring at the mo-
ment that he lifts the hand you are
mounted gracefully, without an appear
ance even of difficulty. 1t is quite un-
necessary to send a mans hat flying into
the road, or put your knees into his eyes
nor need he grasp you fast, as if you were
a sack of flour fixed to a iointed crane,
while you clutch and scramble I'D your
saddle as if you were climbing the side of
a man-of-war out of a cuddy-boat. Moth
ing 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 al
most straight before the toe can reach it.
Be sure all is right; then let your horse
slip off quietly. Nothing is a sign of worse
riding than a furry and flutter to get off
in grand commotion, like froth, that sub
sides into fatness very soon. Sit square,
the right knee pointing in a straight line
between the horses ears; ride on the
snaff1e if you use a double-rein bride, re-
serving the curb for emergencies, and
treat your horse sensibly; he will appreci
ate it If he is 2 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
canter, but not every horse can trot well,
nor rider "rise to it." if he can. Rise to
your trot straight forward, without stop
ping, keeping the action of your body with
that of your horse. Your position should
always be as if your eyes were fixed be-
tween the horses ears. Some people rise
quite Independently of the horses action,
and having got their weight off the saddle
on TO their left leg, they stand in their
stirrups, and only preserve their equilib-
rum, and get back into the saddle by
sort of twist, which has the appearance of
the part of q cork-screW that is turning in
the cork. When this movement is appar-
ent, we may know that fast trot would be
impossible. 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 canter, and the
most beautiful action of the horse is lost.
The art of riding is in the hand. A horse
walks, trots or gallops, his worst or his
best, according to the handling he receives
Keep the left knee slightly pressed to the
saddle, and rise from it by the muscular
action of the limb mom the knee to the
waist, rather than give pressure of the foot
in the stirrup The stirrup is intended
rather to rest the leg than for anything
else.
A spur is never needed. There is no
horse that a woman cannot ride without
one that she will be better able to get on
with by having a spur Try and let
horse understand what you want him to
do, and in nine cases out of ten, if you
can do this, he will do what is required
much kbetter for himself than you can
teach him. Usually the rider is uncertain,
first, what she wants done; then, often, if
leaping is intended, her courage fails her,
her nervousness is instantly communicated
to the horse-the reins are more instan-
taneous conductors than any telegraph
wire ever could be; and then he is blamed,
when thus hurried and confused, for mis-
understanding and blundering through
what, if left to himself, be would have
done perfectly we'll Always have both
hands ready fore the reiDs, so that al any
moment, by taking them two in each hand,
the most perfect control is Obtained. A
horse cannot turn if you keep his head
straight, the hand low, and the whip held
upward across the riders kness. 1t is
then ready, without difficulty, for Instant
" strikm the horse on either shoulder or
flank, as ~ be needed. A whip should
not be Cd d for ornament but use; and
should M touch horse but in chastise-
ment Unless it be carried upright in this
way, it is impossible to avoid its constantly
tickling the right flank. This distracts a
restive horse, and the most unimpressible
acquire a kind of motion which is very
ugiy.-Lynch6uTg Republican.