[Gutenberg 39605] • Hand-book for Horsewomen

Hand-book for Horsewomen by H. L. de Bussigny

Author Bussigny, H. L. de (Henry L. de), 1840-

Title Hand-book for Horsewomen

Language English

Category Text

For many years two styles of riding have prevailed in Western Europe—the English and the continental or school system. The two are usually supposed to be somewhat antagonistic, so much so that the followers of each are not unapt to regard the other with feelings of more or less dislike, not to say contempt; the one side being sneered at as pedants, the other despised as barbarians. To the unprejudiced both seem somewhat unreasonable.

The English method, originating in the national taste for field sports, has developed a race of horsemen worthy of that noblest of animals, the thorough-bred horse. The chief essential for the race-course and the hunting-field, however, being high speed on lines that are practically straight, the tendency of Englishmen is to leave their horses very much alone, provided they can gallop and jump and are sufficiently under control not to run away,[Pg 4] the rider usually keeping a pretty even pressure on the bit and making comparatively little attempt to regulate the animal's action by the use of his own legs.