The Lady and Her Horse.

by T. A. Jenkins.

EQUITATION.

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS.

"What delight To back the flying Steed, that challenges The wind for speed! Seems native more of Air, Than Earth! Whose burden only lends him fire!

Whose soul is in his task, turns labour into sport And makes your pastime his!"

'_Love Chase._'

"The chief point in Horsemanship", Colonel GREENWOOD observes in his "Hints on Horsemanship" "is to get your horse to be of your party; and not only to obey, but to obey willingly,"--"Good riding as a whole is indeed no trifle, and is worth acquiring by those whose pleasure or business it is to ride, because it is soon, and easily acquired, and when acquired it becomes habitual, and is as easy, nay much more so; and infinitely more safe, than bad riding. Good riding is an affair of skill, but bad riding is an affair of courage." Yet, in no other art, are there so many self-thought Amateurs. Many ladies have a decided objection to going through the ordeal of a riding school; others have no opportunity of obtaining instructions, and the generality consider, that they are in possession of all that can be acquired upon the subject, when they have discovered a mode of retaining the seat, and guiding the horse; but to those who wish to sit a horse through all his paces, firmly, yet gracefully, to have the animal entirely under command, and as if imbued with one intelligence, to unite boldness, with modesty, and employ energy, without losing delicacy, these hints are addressed.

PREPARATORY REMARKS.

_A lady's riding dress_, should be neat, and compact, at the same time she should carefully avoid the slightest approach to a _mannish_ appearance; she may study the becoming, provided there be nothing in her whole toilette likely to become disarranged or loosened by wind, or violent exercise. The hair should be so arranged that it cannot be blown about the eyes, and the hat should be perfectly secured on the head. So much for outward appearance, in other respects comfort alone should be studied.

_The whip_, should be light, and stiff. When too pliable, a lady frequently touches her horse with it unintentionally, thereby teasing and exciting him, and moreover such a whip is useless as an "aid."

_The lady's bridle_, should be, what is called a double bitted bridle, consisting of a bit with a curb-chain; and a snaffle, two separate head-stalls, united by one brow-band, each, with a separate rein.

The _curb-bit_ is a very powerful implement, the best for all purposes is a light one; in choosing a bit for a horse, the distance between the cheeks, should accord with the width of the horse's mouth; they should be of an average length, and the mouth-piece should be only sufficiently arched, to admit of the horse's tongue pa.s.sing freely underneath it. The bit should be placed in the horse's mouth, so that the mouth-piece be one inch above the lower tusk, the curb chain should be laid flat, and smooth under the jaw, and so loose, as to allow a finger to pa.s.s freely inside of it.

The _snaffle_ acts as an auxiliary to the curb-bit, and is placed above it in the horse's mouth, it should bear slightly upon the corners of the mouth, but not so as to wrinkle the cheeks.

For a person who has not a light hand, the curb-bit may, with advantage, be placed a little higher in the horse's mouth; and when the mouth may be wanting in delicacy, it may be lowered a little, but it should never touch the tusk, or it will fret the horse.

The _reins_ should be soft, flexible, and of a good quality, the rein which is attached to the curb-bit is usually fastened in the centre by a sewing, while that attached to the snaffle may be known, by its having a small buckle in the centre.

_Throat-strap_ should not be buckled too tightly, but only sufficiently so, to prevent the headstalls of the bridle, from getting out of place.

_Martingales_, though frequently used, are very seldom necessary if the horse has been educated, and taught to carry his head properly, and to be _obedient to the bit_; but if a horse carries his head high, or be unsteady and fretful, then a light running martingale will be found of service; it must however be attached to the snaffle reins, and never to the curb-bit reins.

The _saddle_ should be roomy, but not too large, it should in short, be made to fit the person. The third crutch is indispensable, as it renders the seat so much more secure, and if properly fitted, it never incommodes the rider. The saddle should be placed on the horse's back, so as not in the least to interfere with the action of the horse's shoulder, and care must be taken that the pad, or stuffing, only rests on the horse's ribs, leaving in the centre a thorough channel, over the spine.

_The lady's horse_ should be good tempered, free and willing, for a sluggish horse is the most unpleasant of any to a lady; but he must not be restless, nor impatient in company: he should be steady, and safe on the roads, smooth in all his paces; and with these natural qualifications which are essential, he must be properly broken, and taught to go collectedly in all his paces; and particularly to lead off in a canter with the right leg; to arch his neck on the reins being felt, to be obedient, and light in hand; it is further desirable that the horse should possess elegance of figure, power, and action, with speed in all his paces. However, much will depend upon the person, for whom he is intended, as a timid rider would be alarmed by the sprightliness of a free going horse, which might perfectly suit a lady with a light hand, and a steady seat. A young horse is naturally unsteady, the beau ideal of a lady's horse, is an officer's charger, about ten years old, as he still possesses life and spirit, without the freshness of a colt.

DIRECTIONS FOR MOUNTING.

The lady holding the falling folds of her habit in both hands, walks up to the horse's head, or side; but never behind him, lest he should kick at her.

There should be two persons in attendance, the groom should stand before the horse's head, with a hand on each side of the bridle, close to his mouth, to keep him steady; the gentleman takes the reins in his left hand, separating them with his forefingers, the lady receives them in her right hand, in like manner, and lets them glide gently and evenly through her fingers, until her hand reaches the near crutch, which she takes hold of; and having pa.s.sed the whip over the saddle, she holds it also in her right hand. Standing close to the near side of the saddle, and facing the gentleman who has taken a lock of the mane in his left hand, the lady places her left foot, which he stoops to receive, full in his right hand, lets the habit fall from her left hand, which she places upon his right shoulder, leaning thereon, and a.s.sisted by her hold on the crutch, she springs up from her right instep, as uprightly as possible, having been careful not to place her left foot too far forward, but keeping it directly under her, she straightens her left knee and a.s.sumes an upright position; the gentleman, when he feels her spring, accelerates the movement, by simultaneously lifting his hand high enough, to place the lady on the saddle, she steadying herself, by the hold she has with her right hand, seats herself, and places her right leg between the two outward pommels, the gentleman places her foot in the stirrup, and she takes the reins in her left hand. To adjust the habit, the lady raises herself by placing her right hand on the off pommel and standing in her stirrup, the gentleman shakes the back part of the skirt into its place, she re-seats herself, and raising her right knee to free the habit, the gentleman a.s.sists to adjust the front part of the skirt by gently drawing it forward.

THE SEAT AND BALANCE.

A lady seldom appears to greater advantage than when mounted on a fine horse, that is, if her deportment be graceful; and her position corresponds with his paces and att.i.tudes; but the reverse is the case, if, instead of acting with, and influencing the movements of, the horse, she appears to be tossed to and fro, and overcome by them. She should rise, and descend, advance, and stop with, and not after the animal.

From this harmony of motion results ease, elegance, and a good effect.

The lady should sit in such a position, that the weight of her body may rest on the centre of the saddle, and so far back, as just to admit of her right leg pa.s.sing easily round the crutch, for if the knee be too far forward, the seat will be very insecure; the right foot should be flat to the saddle, the toe turned downwards, that it may not be seen through the habit, when a firmer seat is required, the heel should be depressed, as doing so, will tend to brace the muscles of the leg, and give a firmer hold on the crutch.

The _left leg_ and knee must be in close contact with the saddle, from the knee the leg should fall in a natural position, the foot should be parallel to the horse's side, and close to it, the heel slightly depressed. The stirrup leather should be adjusted accordingly, as it is only of use, to support the foot in its proper position, too long a stirrup throws the rider on one side, and raises the right hip, too short a stirrup again, forces the knee outwards, and throws the seat too much to the right, giving to the rider a distorted appearance. A small strap fastened to the surcingle about two inches above the stirrup, pa.s.sing round the stirrup leather, with a play of about three inches, adds greatly to the security of the seat, as it prevents the leg from flying out from the saddle.

The _arms_ should hang straight down from the shoulder, nearly close to the sides, but not stiffly, the elbows bent, and the hands level with the elbows, the right arm and hand, when not occupied with the reins, may be allowed to hang straight from the shoulder. The whip should be held with the lash downwards, between the two fingers and thumb. The whip may also be carried in the manner adopted by gentlemen; but care should be taken that its point does not tickle, or irritate the horse.

_The proper position of the bridle hand_, is immediately opposite to the centre of the waist, and about three or four inches from it, the wrist should be slightly rounded, the back of the hand to the front, the knuckles opposite to the horse's ears, the thumb uppermost, and pressed over the third joint of the finger. The hand should not be allowed to move across the body, all the movements being made by the wrist. The arm from the shoulder to the waist, must be one continued spring, impulsive to the motion of the horse's head, moving backwards and forwards as he moves, for if it be not so, the horse's mouth will be spoiled by the dead pull upon it.

The _body_ must always be in a situation, as well to preserve the balance, as to maintain the seat. The shoulders should be thrown back, so as to open the chest as much as possible. The rider should look in the direction, and lean to the side the horse is turning to, which is in fact the _necessary balance_.

HOLDING THE REINS.

There are various ways of holding the reins, depending upon fancy, and circ.u.mstances; such as the fineness of a horse's mouth, and the delicacy of the rider's hand.

_Holding a single rein._--The rein is taken in the centre where the joining is, between the fore-finger and thumb of the right hand, and drawn towards the body, the left hand is placed over the reins, and the little finger is inserted between them; the hand is then closed, and the reins are drawn through the fingers, by the right hand, until a proper feeling is obtained upon the horse's mouth; the loop end of the rein is allowed to drop over the fore-finger, and the thumb is placed upon the rein, to prevent its slipping.

_Holding a double rein._--The curb rein being held as directed, the loop of the snaffle rein is placed over the curb rein in the palm of the left hand, or, to have a double bearing upon the horse's mouth, the rein may be drawn, till the required tension is obtained, the left rein lying over the curb rein in the palm of the hand, the right snaffle rein, pa.s.sing between the second and third fingers. In dividing the reins with the little finger, the right rein, which pa.s.ses over that finger, is always a little longer than the other, and requires to be shortened, if this be not attended to, the horse will be ridden chiefly upon the left rein, his head will be bent to the left, and he will not be looking the way he is going.

_Holding the Curl and snaffle reins separated._--The curb being held as directed in the first described method, the snaffle rein is taken in the same manner, in the right hand, below the left; the princ.i.p.al bearing is brought upon this rein, which keeps the horse's head steady, while with the left hand the horse's mouth is kept alive, by a play on the bit, giving and taking, but, at the same time retaining a light bearing upon the horse's mouth. This is an excellent method for holding the reins with a fiery, high actioned horse, not up to hand.

_Adjusting the reins._--The rider should take hold of the loop end of the rein, and draw it through her hand until the proper bearing and tension has been obtained.

AIDS AND INDICATIONS.

All those motions of the body, the hand, the leg, and the whip, which either indicate the rider's wishes, or in some degree a.s.sist the horse to perform them, are, in the art of riding denominated 'aids;' in their execution, a perfect combination, and the greatest uniformity, exactness, and delicacy are required.

_The indications of the hand_ are of two sorts, guiding and retaining, those of the leg and whip, are also of two sorts, guiding and urging.

The aids serve to put the horse in movement, to direct, and to stop him; they should not only decide the pace which the horse is to take, but also signify to him, the rate at which each pace is to be executed, and also determine his carriage during the performance of it. The power of these aids, and the degree of severity to be used, must be governed by circ.u.mstances, and the sensibility of the horse.

_The hand_, being placed holding the reins, as previously described, and the reins being drawn to that determined length, that the bracing of the muscles of the hand would rein the horse back, and the easing of them permit him to advance freely; if the hand be held steady, as the horse advances in a trot, the fingers will feel by the tightening and loosening of the reins, a slight sensation or tug, occasioned by the measure or cadence of every step, this sensation or tug, which is reciprocally felt in the horse's mouth, by means of the correspondence between the hand and the mouth, is called the appui; and while this appui is preserved, the horse is in perfect obedience to the rider, the hand directing him with the greatest ease, so that the horse seems to work by the will of the rider, rather than by the compulsion of the hand.

When a horse is ridden on a snaffle, he only feels the direct pull more or less of the rider's hand, with a curb-bit in his mouth the effect is different, and more powerful, on account of the lever which tightens the curb-chain on the horse's jaw. A curb in a rough and uneven hand, becomes an instrument of extreme torture; the hand should always be firm, but delicate, the horse's mouth should never be surprised, by any sudden transition of the bearing from tight to slack, or from slack to tight, every thing in horsemanship should be effected by degrees.

The rider should never rest her hand upon the pommel, as by doing so, she at once destroys the sympathy which ought to exist between the hand and the horse's mouth.

_Fineness of mouth_, means a mouth that is perfectly trained, and responds to the determined action of a sensitive hand. The acquirement of the bearing upon the horse's mouth, the turning the horse upon the proper rein, the power of collecting the horse, and retaining him on his proper balance, smoothness of indications, in the shortening of the reins, and the working together of the hand, leg, and whip, are the unseen, and unappreciated foundation, upon which good riding stands; these, and not strength, nor violence commands the animal, with these, the horse will rely on the hand, comply to it, and without force on the rider's part, he will bend to the hand in every articulation. Without these, however unintentional on the rider's part, she will be perpetually subjecting him to the severest torture, to defend himself against which, he will resist the hand, poke his nose, stiffen his neck, and every other part of his body; for the horse can endure no greater torture, than that resulting from an uneven hand.

_The Leg and Whip._--The leg should hang straight from the knee, easy and steady, and be near to the horse's sides; the pressure being increased as occasion required, but the size and substance of the flap of the saddle, in numerous cases, renders the pressure of the leg nugatory, therefore, as the whip is the chief additional aid a lady has to depend upon, its exact management ought to be reduced to a perfect science. Every movement and touch of the whip must be made for purpose and effect; it can be used on both sides of the horse, as the case may require; the lady will have no difficulty in using it, on the right, or off side of the horse: but to use the whip on the near side requires caution and address.

To strike the near forehand; the lady should raise the whip gently to an upright position, holding it with a firm grasp, she should then let the whip suddenly descend along the shoulder, and instantly remove it: she should be careful not to strike the horse on any part of the head except in cases of vice. To strike the near hind quarters, the lady must pa.s.s her right hand gently behind her waist, as far as the arm will reach, without distorting the body; and holding the whip between the two first fingers and thumb, strike the horse. This position is most excellent practice, by compelling the pupil to draw in her waist to its proper place: and until a lady can perform it easily, without disturbing the position and action of her bridle hand, she will fail in attaining a graceful and elegant carriage. The whip on the one side, pressed to the horse's side, corresponds with the leg on the other, but except in moving straight-forward, they should not be applied opposite to each other; that the pressure of one, may not counteract the effect of the other; thus the one intended to communicate a forward impulse, should be applied further forward, to keep the horse up to hand, than that, which communicates an impulse to the horse to step side ways, which should be applied behind the girth.

The rider must always bear in mind, that every movement of the bridle, the leg, and of the whip, is felt, and responded to, by the sensitiveness of the horse; when she errs, the horse goes wrong, it is therefore indispensable that they should act in conjunction.