The New York herald., 1922-06-11

| Any horse that is not too big, and not
| too lazy, that is reasonably sound and
strong, is not vicious and does not STUN
BILE, can be converted into a usable rid
hing animal. Anybody who cares to
bother can get an ordinary horse and a
good book on equitation. and the horse
and the beginner can learn the riding
game by practicing on each other. with
satisfaction to both, and very moderate
expense.
1t is better for an out-and-out novice
with horses to get middle aged or
even elderly horse, in preference to a
young one. One reason Is that it is a
good plan for one of the combination
to have had some experience. A young
horse, hardly out of colthood, Is apt to
go wrong in some way If 1t is handled
entirely by one who Is not able to keep
ii from repeating its mistakes, or to
prevent 1t from taking advantage of its
masters A five or six-year-old horse
may be very we'll broken while II Is used
by a horseman, but 1t is decidedly not
settled for life.
Then. too. any physical defects may
be dormant within the system of a
young horse, or so incompletely devel
oped as to escape the notice of casual
observer Many such weaknesses could
be prevented from becoming acute by an
old hand with horses, and, II kept quies-
cent until middle life. are not easily
developed into an active condition.
Horsemen have saying that a horse
past eight years of age never develops
spavin.3 ThisIis barely true in lit
eral sense, but the significance OF the
phrase in its wider meaning is as sound
as any other proverbial expression. An
entirely sound, full aged horse will en-
6tfr Ara \, o~1 fcb krao =
ment in the matter of diet and care than
will an equally sound colt.
: Perfect Specimens Come High.
If you aspire to ride an ideally fine
saddle horse two hings are essential !:
unlimited money and profound knowl-
edge. Perfect blooded horses are as
rare as perfect diamonds and are SIM
liar in value. Strange as 1t might
seem. however, 1t is probable that 1t
really requires more skill to buy i'm
perfect animals well than to buy fault
less specimens. But 1t is so very much
cheaper that most people have to take
a try at it."
The important point In getting a
horse with an "out" is to secure one
whose failing will not conflict with the
| use you wish to make of it, An elderly
| pearance. but never cares for speed,
may find treasure in a short winded
beauty that could not go ten miles an
hour to save its life. For a childs
companion on country rides some well
hammered, sweet tempered old fellow,
feeble with age and hard work, may
find happy place in his last years
and give his small master or mistress
ideal service.
| / want to refer also to the practical
| application of the famous saying, "The
outside Of a horse is good for the
| inside of a man. Nobody In these
days needs to be told that horseback
riding Is most beneficial to health. The
usual emphasis, however, is placed upon
the fresh air, the exercise and such
phases of the matter. Two other points
should be more often mentioned One
is easily described.
Makes You Forget Troubles.
The effect of riding on the mental
condition of the rider and in its turn
| the action of the mental state upon the
| physical form are noteworthy. 1t Is not
easy to take your troubles with you on
a saddle horse. Some horses keep you
so busy just riding that you have no
! time to think about lesser matters.
Some horses are jolly chums who notice
your depressed mood. and with every
prancing step and every head toss and
every light hearted glance say cheer
( fully. Cheer up! We're having a fine
time" And presently you find yourself
| agreeing with them. BY the time you
get home you may not have forgotten
your worries real worries are not for
gotten so lightly. but you feel calm
about them and as II you knew what to
do with them
Riding a good horse can inspire the
dstraught mortal with sense of VIC
tory In advance and that feeling is apt
to lead to victory in the end. 1t is not
accidental that most of the worlds
supreme battlefronts have been directed
I to a triumphant conclusion by man or
the back of charger Galahad's
strength Of ten is the gift of a horse
to his human friend.
The other matter is not so readil,
talked about. The best thing abou
riding a horse Is the utterly indescrib'
able sensation of vital power conveyed
in and by its movements. Simple ply
sical, muscular power, pure nerve force
This is not particularly matter o.
mere expenditure of energy. 1t has
nothing to do with pace. 1t may be ex
perenced at all speeds. Sometimes 1t !:
conveyed most ideally to the rider while
the hose Is walking.
Highly bred horses of course, conve,
this sensation much more emphaticall,