Chapter VI

HOLDING THE REINS, AND MANAGING THE HORSE.

A thorough knowledge of the management of the horse highly
necessary for a lady.--Position in the saddle has an
important influence.--Horses generally more gentle with women
than with men.--Position should be acquired first, and
afterwards the reins be used.--How to hold the hands and
snaffle-reins, in first lessons.--To turn the horse to the
right, to the left, to back him, to stop him, with a
snaffle-rein in each hand.--Manner of holding the
snaffle-reins in the bridle-hand; to turn the horse to either
side; to back, and to stop him.--To change the snaffle-reins
from the left to the right hand; to reinstate them in the
bridle-hand.--To separate the snaffle-reins; to shorten or
lengthen them.--To hold the curb and bridoon, or double
bridle-reins; to shorten or lengthen them; to shorten the
curb and lengthen the snaffle-reins; to shorten the snaffle
and lengthen the curb-reins.--To tighten a rein that has
become loose.--To change the double bridle from the left to
the right hand; to return it to the left hand.--Management of
reins when making quick turns.--European manner of holding
the double bridle-reins, a pair in each hand.--The
equestrienne should practice and perfect herself in these
various manoeuvrings with the reins.--The proper rein-hold
creates a correspondence between the rider's hand and the
horse's mouth, and gives support to the animal.--Give and
take movements--The dead-pull.--In collecting the horse the
curb must be used.--The secret of good riding.--The
management of the reins with restive horses.--Liberty of the
reins sometimes necessary.--Movements of horse and rider
should correspond.--Horse united or collected.--Horse
disunited.--To animate the horse.--To soothe the horse.--What
to do in certain improper movements of the horse.--Concluding
remarks. 145

CHAPTER VII.

THE WALK.

The movements of the horse in walking.--A good walk is a
certain basis for perfection in other gaits.--A lady's horse
should be especially trained to walk well.--Every change
in the walk, as turning, backing, and stopping, should be well
learned, before attempting to ride in a faster gait.--The walk
is a gait more especially desirable for some ladies.--The advance,
the turn, the stop, the reining back, in the walk.--Remarks on
the reining back. 181

CHAPTER VIII.

THE TROT, THE AMBLE, THE PACE, THE RACK.

The movements of the horse in trotting.--The trot a safe gait
for a lady.--The jog trot.--The racing trot.--The true
trot.--The French trot.--The English trot; is desirable for
ladies to learn.--Objections to the French trot.--How to
manage the horse and ride the English trot.--Which is the
leading foot of the horse in the trot.--To stop a horse in
the English trot.--Trotting in a circle.--Circling to the
right, to the left.--The amble.--The pace.--The rack. 197

CHAPTER IX.

THE CANTER.

Leading with the right foot, with the left foot.--The rapid
gallop.--The canter.--The true canter.--To commence the
canter; position of the rider, and management of the
horse.--To canter with the right leg leading.--To canter with
the left leg leading.--To determine with which leg the horse
is leading in the canter.--To change from the trot to the
canter.--To turn in the canter, to the right, to the
left.--Management of the horse while making a turn in the
canter.--To stop in the canter.--Remarks concerning position
in the canter. 221

CHAPTER X.

THE HAND GALLOP, THE FLYING GALLOP.

The hand gallop, a favorite gait with ladies.--Position and
management of the reins, in the hand gallop.--Cautions to
ladies when riding the hand gallop.--To manage a disobedient
horse during the hand gallop.--Turning when riding the hand
gallop.--Position of rider while turning in the hand
gallop.--The flying gallop an exercise for country
roads.--Cautions to ladies previous to riding the flying
gallop.--Holding the reins, position of the rider, and
management of the horse, in the flying gallop.--To stop in
the flying gallop.--Concluding remarks. 238

CHAPTER XI.

THE LEAP, THE STANDING LEAP, THE FLYING LEAP.

Advantages of learning to leap.--Requisites necessary in
leaping.--The standing leap.--Position of the rider,
rein-hold, and management of the horse, in the standing
leap.--Points to be carefully observed in the leap.--How to
make the horse leap.--Management of the reins and of the
rider's position during the leap.--Counsels which should be
well learned by the rider before attempting the leap, and
especially as to the management of the horse.--How to train a
horse to leap.--A lady should never attempt the leap, except
with a horse well trained in it.--Horses do not all leap
alike.--The flying leap.--Important points to know relative
to the flying leap. 249