The Barb and the Bridle: A Handbook of Equitation for Ladies, and Manual of Instruction in the Science of Riding, from the Preparatory Suppling ExercisesHenderson, Robert, active 1866-1874
Science
The Barb and the Bridle: A Handbook of Equitation for Ladies, and Manual of Instruction in the Science of Riding, from the Preparatory Suppling Exercises
Henderson, Robert, active 1866-1874
Horsemanship
A couple or three hours' riding is sufficient for health, and the great
thing is to go home quite cool; the bath and breakfast are then most
enjoyable. Evening promenades are as a matter of fashion, and indeed, of
reason, usually attended by ladies in carriages. There are many,
however, who prefer riding on horseback again in the latter part of the
day; but experience proves that evening riding on horseback is not good,
as a rule, for ladies. Exposure to the sun on horseback, or indeed in
any way, should be specially avoided, as should also violent exercise of
any kind, that on horseback not excepted. The rattling gallop, which is
not only exhilarating but healthful in Leicestershire, is inadmissible
in most parts of India, where extremes of any kind are injurious.
Finally, I would respectfully impress upon every lady who is likely to
go to India, those especially who, having been born there, have been
sent home for their education, that they should avail themselves of
every opportunity in this country of becoming efficient horsewomen. To
be able to ride well is very desirable for a lady who is to pass her
life in Europe, in India it is absolutely indispensable; and if the
lady's equitation is neglected in early days at home, she will find
herself sadly at a loss when she arrives in India; for although there
are plenty of thoroughly competent men there who could instruct her,
their time is taken up with teaching recruits at the early time of the
day at which a lady could avail herself of their services. As regards
riding in Australia, the Cape, New Zealand, Canada, or the West Indies,
briefly it may be said that again it is best to take out saddlery from
this country, because, although it can be procured in any of the
above-named colonies far cheaper than in India, it is still
considerably dearer, and generally not so good as at home. At the Cape,
in Australia, and in New Zealand--the two former colonies
especially--long journeys have frequently to be done by ladies on
horseback; and if a thoroughly practical education in the saddle is
necessary to health, as regards a sojourn in India; it is equally so as
a matter of convenience in other of the British dependencies abroad.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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