The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-07-21
Agricultural.
From the American Stock Journsl.l
Horse Back Kiding--.A Few Hints for the
Ladies'.

"With the advent of the bright sum
mer days, the delightful and healthful
exercise of horseback riding again be-
comes possible. AS II is every year be-
coming more fashionable, the follow.
ing hints will help many who are nov
ice in the art of managing a horse, and
some who think they know all about 1t.
"There are few prettier sights than
fair eauestrians, provided they know
how to ride and although 1t seems par
adoYical to say so, yet 1t Is not every
fair equestrian who can ride. No lady
can use spur without damaging her
habit more than her horse. Extreme
neatness Is the desideratum in riders
make up. No flying ribbons or feath.
ers, but q plainly made, well fitting
cloth habit, with white linnen collar
and cuffs, fastened without ribbon or
color, unless 1t be of a silk handkerchief
round the throat. A top hat with a
lace veil, for use as well as ornament,
twisted round 1t and over the hair,
black gloves, and nothing can look bet
ter than any lady when so attired.
"Your horse Ia at the door, and now
comes the tug of war. You have got to
arrive at the top of fifteen 1t 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 POM
mel, and the left hand on the squire's
or servants shoulder. Stand steadily
on the right ley, and place the left foot
in his right hand. Wait one minute,
until you are both sure that the other
Is ready, and if you spring at the mo-
ment that he lifts his hand you are
mounted gracefully, without an appear
ance even of difficulty. 1t is quite un-
necessary to send a mans hat flying in.
to the road, or to put your knees into
his eyes nor need he grasp you fast, as
II 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 a man.of-war out
Of a cuddy-boat. Nothing can be more
inelegant.
"People tuink they cannot help it.,
and rather than look so ridiculous they
have chair or step brought and get
on themselves. 1t is much better to
get on properly /; besides that, when
you do, your habit is properly placed
and straight. Once mounted, take up
your reins and have your stirrup long
enough that is have 1t 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. Moth
ing is sign of worse riding than to
furry and fluster to get off in grand
commotion, like froth, that subsidies
into flatness very soon. Sit square, the
right knee pointing in straight line
between the horse's ears; ride on the
snafile If you use double.rein bride,
reserving the curb for emergencies, and
treat your horse sensibly; he will ap.
prec late it. If he is 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 we'll, nor rider rise to it,,
If he can. Rise to your trot straight
forward, 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 sad.
die on to their left leg, they stand in
their stirrups, and only preserve their
equilibrium, and get back into the Sad.
die by sort of twist, which has the
appearance of the cork-srfew that is
turning in the cork. Wien this move.
ment 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 ride, and the sudden tightening of
the iein breaks the trot into cant er,
ard 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 land 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 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 better for himself
than you can teach him.
Usually the rider is uncertain, first,
what she wants done then, often, es-
pecially If leaping is intended, her cour-
age fails her, her nervousness is Instant
ly communicated to the horse-the
reins are more instantaneous conductors
than any telegraph wire ever could be ;
and then he is blamed, when thus hur'
ried and confused, for misunderstood
ing and blundering through what, II
left to himself, he would have done per.
fectly well. Always have both hands
ready for the reins, so that at any mo.
ment, by taking them two in each hand
the most perfect control is obtained. A
horse can not turn If you keep his head
straight, the hands low, and the whiL
held upward across the riders knees
1t is then ready without difficulty, fol
instantly striking the horse ON eithe
shoulder or flank, as may be needed
A whip should not be carried for orna
ment, but use; and should never toucl
horse but in chastisement. Unless !