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
For my own part, of two evils, I would rather see a lady jammed into a
lane with twenty or thirty horses, after hounds had just got away, and
everybody was struggling to get out, than I would see her in the Park
unattended by a gentleman, and mounted upon a well-bred horse that was
very fresh. I do not by any means deprecate riding in the Row. It is a
splendid piece of riding ground, and relieved to some extent, as it now
is, of overcrowding by the ride on the upper side of the Park; it is a
glorious place for a canter. But I repeat, let everybody who takes a
horse there be able to ride him, and have eyes for his neighbours as
well as himself; and especially let gentlemen who attend ladies there be
always on the _qui vive_ for the adventurous Gilpins and "pretty
horsebreakers."
The canter for the Row, conventionally and wisely, should be almost as
collected as that of the riding school. It is an understood thing, in
fact, that no lady or gentleman (properly so called) "sets a horse
going" there; and trotting when practised should also be done very
collectedly, both paces admitting of the display of talent and
proficiency in equitation of the rider.
For the more extended paces, it is necessary again to have recourse to
open heath or common; and, before the pupil attempts to "set her horse
going," the difference between cantering, in the "andante" pace, and
galloping, should be clearly explained to her. The main difference in
this cantering is to some extent an artificial pace, because, when
practised collectedly, the greater weight of the horse is brought from
his forehand on to his haunches; and the shorter the pace, the more his
weight is on his hind legs. It is for this reason that very collected
cantering should not be continued for any great length of time, from its
tendency to strain the hocks, nevertheless cantering, like trotting,
cannot fairly be pronounced altogether artificial, because anybody who
has had the handling of a great number of young horses must have seen
many of them running loose who would canter the length of a paddock at
quite a short pace, both legs on the same side (generally the near
side); and I have seen a foal at a mare's foot trot, true and fair, for
a considerable distance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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