The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-15
HINTS TO
How 10 Ride Well.

With the advent of the bright spring days,
the delightful and healthful exercise of horse.
back riding again becomes possible. AS 1t is
every year becoming more fashion able, the
following hints will help many who are nsvi-
ces in the art OF managing a horse, and some
who think they know all about it:
There are few prettler sights than fair eques-
TRANS, provided they know how TO ride; and,
although it seems paradoxical 10 say 1t; yet 1t
is not every fair equestrian who can ride. No
lady can use o spur Without damaging her
habit more than her horse. Extreme neatness
is the deslderatum IN q rlders "make up,
No 1ying ribbons or feathers, but a plainly
made. well fitting cloth habit, with a white
linen collar and cuffs, fastened without rib
bon or color, unless it be of o silk handker-
chief round the throat. A top hat with o lace
veil, for use. as well as ornament, twisted
round 1t 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
tsp OF fifteen, it may be sixteen hands. Puz.
cling as the performance appears as you stand
on The ground BY his side, and the monster
towers above you, nothing but knack is want
ed. Do not be IN O hurry. Place the right
hand firmly on The left pommel, and the left
hand firmly on the sqnire's or servants shoul-
der. Stand steadily on the right leg, and place
the left foot In his right hand. Wait one min
ute. until YOU are both sure the other is ready,
and II YOU spring ut the moment that he lifts
his hand YOU are mounted gracefully, without
an appearance even OF difficulty. 1t is quite
unnecessary TO send O mans hat lying Into
the road, or 10 put your knees into his eyes;
nor need he grasp you last as II You were a
you clutch and scramble up your saddle as II
you were climbing the side Of q man-of.war
out of o cuddy-boat. Nothing can be more
iuelegant.
People think they cannot help it, and rather
| than look 30 ridiculous they have a chair or
| step brought. and ''get on tor themselves"
1t is much better to get on" properly; besides
placed and Get straight. Once mounted, take
up your reins, and have your stirrup long
| enough: that Is, have It 80 long that the leg Is
| almost straight before the toe can. reach 1t.
Be sure all Is right; then let your horse slip of
quietly. Nothing is a sign oil worse riding than
10 furry and fuster to get off in a .grang COM
motion, like froth, that subsidies into flatness
very soon. Sit square, the right knee point
ing In a straight line between the horses ears;
| ride on the snat1e If you use ! double-reir ori-
die, resnrving the curb for emergencies, and
treat your horse sensibly; he will appreciate 1t.
II he Is a good one, his good qualities will De
drawn into notice, and the worst animal, with
rational treatment, shows the best he IS capa,
BILE Of. Trolting is the pace at which horse
and rider show TO the best advantage. any
old screw can canter. but not every horse can
| trot we'll, nor rider 'rlse to II" III he can. Rise
10 your trot straight forward, without STOPPING,
| Keeping the action Of your body With that o!
| your horse. Your position should always be
US if your eyes were fixed between the horses
ears. Some people rise quite independently
- IT. 400 44tt0n md houfnzr 0nf fhdty
weight off The saddle on 10 their left leg, they
| stand In their slirrups, and only preserve theil
| equilibrium, and get back into the saddle by 8
| sort of twist, which has the appearance Of the
part Of cork-screw that Is turning In the cork
| When this movement is apparent. we ma!
know that q fust trot would be impossible.
| Should the pace increase, the rider would INC
It hopeless to try and screw back, therefore
ehe would cease to rise, and the sudden tight
| ening 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. A horse
| walks, trots or gallops, his worst or his best,
according 10 the handling he receives. Keep
| the left knee Slightly pressed to The saddle,
and rise from It by the muscular action OF The
limb from 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 snur is never needed. There is no horse
that q woman cannot ride without one that
| che will be better able to get on with by haT:
Ing a spur. Try and let d horse understand
what YOU want him to do, and In nine cases
out OF ten, If you can do this, he will do what
ia required much better for himself than you
| can leach him. Usually the ruleris uncertain,
first, what she wants done; then, often, espe-
! cIally If leaplng is intended, her courage falls
| her, her nervousness Is instantly communica-
ted 10 the horse-the reins are more instanta-
neous conductors than any telegraph wire
ever could be: and then he is blamed, when
! thus hurried aud confused, for mlsunderstaDd-
ing and laundering through what, II left to
himself. he would have done perfectly well:
Always have both hands ready for the reins,
SO that at any moment, by taking them Two IN
each hand, the most perfect control Is 90
tanned. A horse cannot turn II you keep MS
head straight, the hand low, and the whip
held upward across the riders knees. IL is
then ready, without difficulty, for instantly
striking The horse on each shoulder or HANK.
as NAV be needed. a whip should not be car
ried ior ornament, but use, and should never
touch O horse but in chastlsement. Unless II
be carried upright in This way, lt Is Impossible
to avoid its constantly tickling the right tiank.
This dislracts a restive horse, and the most
unlmprcsslble acquire n kind Of motion which
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