[Gutenberg 42938] • Horsemanship for Women

PART I. AMATEUR HORSE-TRAINING.

“My dear,” said my wife, “you don’t mean to say you have bought that horse?”

“Why, yes, indeed,” replied I; “and very cheap, too. And why not?”

“You will never get your money back,” said she, “no matter how cheap you have bought him. Don’t keep him. Send him back before it is too late.”

It was a sultry July morning, and my wife stood on the farm-house porch, in provokingly fresh attire, while I held my new acquisition by the bridle in the scorching sun; and just recovering as I was from illness, this conversation struck me as really anything but tonic in its character. However, bracing myself up, I replied, “But I don’t want to get my money back; I intend to train him for my own use under the saddle.”

“Oh, you can never do anything with that great horse. Why, he is the awkwardest brute I ever saw. Just look at him now!”

In fact, his appearance was anything but beautiful at that moment. His Roman nose, carried a long way forward and a little on one side, gave him somewhat the air of a camel; his coat showed no recent acquaintance with the brush; and as he stood there sleepily in the sun, with one hind-leg hitched up, he did not present at all a picture to charm a lady’s eye. Nevertheless, he was, in fact, a reasonably well-made horse, a full black, fifteen and three-quarter hands high, sound, kind, and seven years old.

“He’s just horrid,” said my wife.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” said I; “that’s only a bad habit he has. We will soon cure him of such slovenly tricks. Just see what good points he has. His legs are a little long, to be sure, but they are broad, and have excellent hoofs; his breast is narrow, but then it is deep; and that large nostril was not given him for nothing. You will see he will run like a race-horse.”

CONTENTS

PART I. AMATEUR HORSE-TRAINING.

1\. Coming to the Whip

2\. To Hold the Bit Lightly (Flexion de la mâchoire), Using the Curb

3\. To Hold the Bit Lightly, using the Snaffle

4\. To Lower the Head

5\. To Bend the Neck to Right and Left, with the Reins Held Below the Bit (Flexions de l’encolure)

6\. To Bend the Neck to Right and Left, with the Reins Thrown Over the Neck

7\. To Move the Croup to Right and Left with the Whip

8\. Mounted

9\. Mounted (continued)

10\. The Walk

11\. To Move the Croup with Heel and Whip (Pirouette renversée)

12\. To Guide “Bridlewise”

13\. The Trot

14\. The Gallop, Hand-gallop, and Canter

15\. The Pirouette, Deux Pistes, Passage

16\. Backing

17\. Riding in Circles.—Change of Leading Foot

PART I. AMATEUR HORSE-TRAINING.

Dress

The Mount

Mounting

The Start

On which Side to Ride

The Seat

On the Road

The Pace

Turning

The Groom

PART III. LEAPING.

PART IV. BUYING A SADDLE-HORSE.

Parts and “Points” of the Horse, Alphabetically Arranged

List of Diseases and Defects

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Coming to the Whip

A good Saddle

A properly fitted Curb-chain

Flexion of the Jaw—using the Curb

Lowering the Head

Punishment in case of Resistance

“Pulling the Hands steadily Apart”

To Bend the Neck to Right or Left, with the Reins below the Bits

Getting the Horse “Light in Hand”

Pulling on the Right Rein

Moving the Croup one step to the Right

Getting a Horse accustomed to Skirts

Showing Reins in Left Hand

Advancing at touch of Heel

Stopping a