El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-22

got TO do is to take as many lessons
as you can before Sunday"
But I couldn't learn In that time
~Of course you can I've never had
a lesson in my life All you have to do
is to sit well back In the saddle. and
don't saw on the reins-"
She Is Reassured-
"Oh. but I've always been afraid OF
horses I love them-love- to pet them
but the thought OF riding one terrifies
me-
TT won't after you've ridden few
times. Wait till I get dressed and
well go right over to the stable now
and you'll take your first lesson
They've an enclosure there back Of the
stable and no one can see YOU
An hour later Helen was mounted
on sedate, gentle horse with riding
master beside her.
Right shoulder back-eIbows in.
Hold the reins a little lower. please
There, that's better. No, not so tight
on the curb were the bewildering in
structions Helen tried desperately to
follow.
AS she was slight and supple. she
should have looked well on a horse.
but her very eagerness to learn quickly
and her nervous fear made 1t more
difficult
The first lesson was only on the
reins and the position in the saddle
But the reins were painfully confusing.
Helen could not remember the differ
ence between the shuttle and the
curb. nor the fingers between which
to hold them And when she went
back to the hotel she tied some tape
to the bedpost in imitation Of the reins.
in a vain effort to solve 1T out there
The next morning, as soon as War
rem had left for the city. she started
for her second lesson This was on
Distinguishing to the trot- The in
structor rode close beside her and held
her arm while they trotted slowly
around the ring. By lifting her elbow
at each step, he tried TO show her
how and when to rise But IT was
long before Helen could get into the
swing OF II.
NO. not SO rigid-don't hold your
self so stiff Relax morel Give your
self up to the motion OF the horse.
Put more weight on the stirrup. No:
keep your heel down-like this Now.
once morel'
The lessons were costing Helen 81
each, and as she had arranged to have
eight before Sunday, that would be
SIG, which would take almost all she
had saved toward the bookcase she
was so anxious to give Warren at
Christmas But she would have tine
to save something more before then
And now no sacrifice was too great
If she could learn to ride, at least pas
SADLY well. before Sunday.
Learning to Ride.
Mrs. Stevens was giving her much
encoura cement and assurance. And
Helen had taken the instructor partially
into her confidence, for IN no other
way could she explain her eagerness to
learn In so short time
mo. you don't rise to the centeri
Sit close to the saddle-and well back
Give yourself to the motion OF the
horse-it's a rocking chair movement
And watch that right shoulder! You'd
do better il you didn't try so hard. Yes.
but don't hold yourself so stiff. Take
1t easy. Learn to relax"
Learn to relax with every muscle
rigid with nervous fearl At times she
was filled with despair-it seemed
that she could never learn
But after the fourth ride the instrrc-
tor said briefly: That was much bet
ter. You'll soon have a good seat. Now,
II you'll only learn to handle your
reins."
And Helen's hopes were swept to the
heights.
She had two more days-four more
lessons. Now that she was started.
what might she not accomplish IN that
time? II only she could get through
this Sunday morning ride without be-
traying herself TO Warren-she would
ask nothing more