Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-05-25
Hints TO Lady Equestr ianS.

mana OF the morse. lne editor or the
Lynchburg Republican, living among
them, is well qualified to give the fol
lowing hints in his interesting paper
"With the advent of the bright
spring days, the delightful and health
full exercise of horseback riding again
becomes possible As it is every year
becoming more fashionable, the fol-
lowing hints will help many who are
novices in the art of managing horse,
and some who think they know all
about it.
"There are few prettier sights than
fair equestrians, provided they know
4 how to ride; and although it seems
paradoxical to say SO, vet it is not
every fair equestrian who can ride.
No lady can use spur without dam
aging her habit more than her horse.
Extreme neatness is the desideratum
in a riders make up. No flying rib
bons or feathers, but plainly made,
we'll fitting cloth habit, with white
/ linen collar and cuffs, fastened without
ribbon or color, unless it be of silk
handkerchief round the throat. A top
| hat with lace veil, for use as well as
ornament, twisted round it and over
! the hair, black gloves, and nothing can
look better than any lady when so at
tired.
"Your horse is at the door, and now
comes the tug of war. You have got
sixteen hands. Puzzling as the perfor-
nance appears AS you stand on the
ground by his side, and the monster
towers above you, nothing but knack is
wanted. Do not be in hurry. Place
/ the right hand firmly on the left pom
mel, and the left hand firmly 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
moment that he lifts his hand you are
mounted gracefully, without an APP
pearance even of difficulty. 1t is quite
unnecessary to send mans hat flying
into the road, orto 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
scramble up your saddle as if you were
climbing the side of man-of-war out of
cuddy-boat. Nothing can be more
inelegant.
"People think they can not help it,
and rather than look so ridiculous they
have 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 sets straight Once mount
.,l 4ok 10
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 to furry and fuster to get
off in grand connection, like froth,
! that subsidies into fairness very soon.
Sit square, the right knee pointing in
straight line between the horses ears;
ride on the snaffle if you use double
rein bride, reserving the curb for
emergencies, and treat your horse SEN
sibly; he will appreciate it. If he is
good one, his good qualities will be
drawn into notice, and the worst ami
NAL, 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 for
ward, without STOPPING, 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 rise
quite independently of the horses
action, and having got their weight off
the saddle on their left leg, they 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 cork screw that
Is turning in the cork When this
movement is apparent 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 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 spur is never needed There is
no horse that woman can not ride
without one that she will be better able
to get on with by having a spur. Try
and let horse understand what you