Graceful Riding Part 2

FOR HOLDING THE REINS IN ONE HAND.

The reins should hang _untwisted_ from the bits.

The rider must take up the bridoon reins with his right hand, and pa.s.s the second and third fingers of the bridle, or left, hand between them, draw up the reins with the right hand, until the horse's mouth can be felt, and then pa.s.s them between the forefinger and thumb. Next take up the _curb reins_ (again with the right hand), and pa.s.s the little finger of the bridle hand between them, draw them up, as before directed, with the right hand, until the rider perceives there is an equal length and feeling with the _bridoon_ reins. The _latter_ having _rather_ the strongest pressure on the animal's mouth. This done, _lay them also over_ between the forefinger and thumb, and press down the thumb firmly upon them to keep them from slipping; the hand to be held with the wrist rounded outwards, opposite the centre of the body, and about four inches from it.

_The right arm_ should hang without restraint, and _slightly_ bent, by the thigh, the whip being held about twelve inches from its head, with the point turned _upwards_.

USING BOTH HANDS.

Take the bridoon reins between the second and third, and the curb reins between the third and fourth, fingers of each hand, each rein having an equal bearing on the horse's mouth; the hands are to be held about six inches apart, with the wrists rounded outwards, and the thumbs pressing firmly upon the reins, the elbows well down, and held near to the sides, the whip held as directed above.

RIDING ON ONE REIN.

Take up THAT particular rein with the right hand, and pa.s.s the second and third fingers of the bridle hand between them, then draw up the reins, but be careful, in doing so, not to hold the horse too tight in hand; the OTHER rein should hang down, having the little finger pa.s.sed between them, and the thumb also over them, so that they may be caught hold of, and drawn up quickly on any sudden emergency; the loose reins are to hang between those in use.

THE WHIP.

The whip being a requisite aid in the management and guidance of the horse, should be used as an instrument of correction, and by no means to be _played_ with, nor _flourished about_. When using the whip for punishment, _scold_ at the same time; by this means, with a cross word will be a.s.sociated the idea of chastis.e.m.e.nt. However, far more can be achieved by kindness than by any harsh measure; but when such instances occur that it is _absolutely necessary_, never hesitate to _punish well_, so that the animal may thoroughly understand that it is _punishment_ that is meant for his fault--_not play_.

"A man of kindness to his beast is kind, But brutal actions show a brutal mind: Remember He who made thee, made the brute, Who gave thee speech and reason, form'd him mute; He can't complain, but G.o.d's omniscient eye Beholds thy cruelty. He hears his cry.

He was designed thy servant--not thy drudge; But know, that his Creator is thy Judge."

Colt-breaking by the Guachos is performed in the same mode as the Kalmucks, with the la.s.so; the idea of being thrown, let a horse do what he pleases, never occurs to a Guacho. According to them, a "good rider"

is a man who can manage an untamed colt, and one, if his horse should fall, could alight unhurt upon his feet. At the moment of a horse falling backwards they can slip quietly off, and, on the instant of his rising, jump on him again. They never seem to exert muscular force, and appear to ride very loosely, as if every moment they must fall off: yet should his horse be suddenly frightened, the Guacho will start, and take, simultaneously, fright with the horse. There is nothing done on foot by the Guachos that cannot be done on horseback; even _mounted_ beggars are to be seen in the streets of Buenos Ayres and Mendoza. It is not, therefore, surprising that, with such mult.i.tudes of horses, that the people should all be riders, and excel all other nations in their expertness and boldness in their management.

The Pampas and Prairie Indians, whose forefathers fled from the Spanish hors.e.m.e.n, as if they were fatal apparitions, now seem to be part and parcel of the horse. They affirm the proudest att.i.tude of the human figure is when a man bending over his horse, lance in hand, is riding _at_ his enemy. The Guachos, who ride so beautifully, declare it is utterly impossible to vie with mounted Indians; they have such a way of urging on their horses by cries, and a peculiar motion of their bodies; even were they to change horses, the Indians would beat them.

The Turks prefer the Turkman horse to the pure-blooded, slender Arabian.

In fact, from their trying mode of riding, the fine limbs of the Arab could not stand the shock upon them, their favourite manoeuvre being to make a dead stop when galloping at full speed. To accomplish this feat, they use a very severe bit, which, of course, destroys the _sensibility_ of their horses' mouths; while, on the contrary, the Arabs use only a plain snaffle, which preserves all the sensitiveness of the animals' mouths.

The Toorkman, or Turkman horses.--These are much esteemed by the Persians. They are large and swift, and possess extraordinary powers of endurance, though they are exceedingly awkward in appearance. Turkistan is their native region, which lies north-east of the Caspian Sea; but their tribes are widely dispersed over Persia, Asia Minor, and Syria.

The Persians are great admirers of horsemans.h.i.+p, and a bad rider affords them infinite amus.e.m.e.nt. "An officer of an English frigate having gone ash.o.r.e to visit the envoy, and being mounted on a very spirited horse, and a very bad rider, caused great entertainment to the Persian populace. The next day the man who supplied the s.h.i.+p with vegetables, and spoke a little English, said to the officer, 'Don't be ashamed, sir, n.o.body knows you--bad rider! I tell them you, like all English, ride well, but that time they see you very drunk!' We were much amused at this conception of our national character. The Persian thought it would have been _a reproach for a man of a warlike nation not to ride well_, but none for a European to get drunk."[33-*]

[33-*] _Vide_ "The Horse and his Rider."

The Syrian horses are reared with the utmost tenderness and care; they are fondled and played with like children. The Syrian horse is equally good on mountainous, or stony ground, as on the plain; he is indefatigable, and full of spirit. The Timarli ride horses of the Syrian breed, mostly from their possessing these inestimable qualifications.

The Neapolitan horse.--This horse is small, but compact and strong; the head rather large; the neck short, and bull-shaped: the prototype of the horses represented on the ba.s.si-relievi of ancient Roman sculpture. He is capable of living on hard fare, and undergoing great fatigue. He is frequently vicious and headstrong; this is chiefly owing to his harsh treatment; though very high-spirited, he would, with gentle usage, become extremely docile and good tempered. The districts of Apulia, Abruzzi, and parts of Calabria furnish this excellent animal. The Neapolitans have taken extreme pains in the breeding of their horses; they make great display of them in their streets during the Carnival, and through Lent. The aristocratic families have excellent studs of great spirit and beauty.

PART III.

ON THE PACES OF THE HORSE.

THE WALK.

Of all the paces, the walk is the easiest to the rider, _provided_ he sits in the centre of his horse's back, as it consists of an alternate depression of the fore and hind quarters.

The motion may be compared to the vibration of the beam of a pair of scales. The walk should be light, firm, and quick; the knee must be moderately bent, the leg should appear suspended in the air for an instant, and the foot fall perfectly flat to the ground.

It is very difficult to confine young and mettlesome horses to a walk; great good temper, with a firm light hand, are requisite to accomplish this. When such horses change to a trot they should be _stopped for a minute_ or two, and _then_ allowed to proceed again. If the animal carries his head well, ride him with a moderately loose rein, raising the hand when he tries to break into a trot.

THE TROT.

The trot is allowed, by professionals, to be the only just basis upon which equestrians can ever attain a secure and graceful seat, combined with confidence and firmness. The rider has more control over the motions of his body in this pace than any other: in this the body is well brought down into the saddle by its own weight, and finds its true equilibrium. When the rider wishes to make his horse trot, let him ease his reins and press the calves of his legs gently; when his horse is at a trot, let him feel both his reins, raise his horse's forehand, and keep his haunches well under him.

THE CANTER.

The rider must have a light and firm feeling of both reins to raise his horse's forehand; at the same time, with a pressure of both calves, to bring the animal's quarters well under him, having a double feeling of the inward rein, and a strong pressure of the outward leg, to cause him to strike off in unison.

At all times the horse should be taught to lead off with EITHER fore leg; by doing so his legs will not be so much shaken, especially the off fore leg, which is the one he most generally leads off on. This must be the case when he is _continually throwing_ the greater part of his weight upon the leading fore leg, as it comes to the ground, which causes lameness of the foot, and strains the back sinews of the legs.

Being thoroughly taught to change his legs, the horse is better enabled to perform long journeys, with facility and comfort both to himself and his rider.

TURNING.

In the turn either to the right or left, the reins must be held quite evenly, so that the horse may be immediately made to feel the aid of the rider's hands; he (the rider) must then have a double feeling on the inward rein, also retaining a steady feeling on the _outward_; the horse being kept up to the hand by a pressure of both legs, the outward leg being the stronger.

REINING BACK.

The rider should frequently practise reining back, which is of the utmost service both to himself and his horse: by it, the rider's hand is rendered firm and materially strengthened; and the pliancy of wrist so essential to the complete management of the horse is achieved, likewise causing the body of the rider to be well thrown back and his chest expanded, thus forcing, and preserving, an _erect_ position in the saddle. Also, the _carriage_ of the horse becomes greatly improved; his head is maintained in its correct position, and he is compelled to work correctly on his haunches.

_In_ "_reining back_," the horseman requires a light and steady feeling of both reins, a pressure of both legs, so as to raise his horse's forehand and keep his haunches _well under_ him, at the same time _easing_ the reins, and _feeling them again_ after every step.

STOPPING.

None are thoroughly taught until quite AU FAIT in the stop. It is of _far greater importance_ than may be _usually_ imagined. In the first place, it shows the horse to be _well under_ COMMAND, especially when the rider is able to do so _instantaneously_: it saves in the second place, many serious and inevitable accidents from carriages, hors.e.m.e.n, &c., such as crossing before suddenly pulling up, turning quickly round a corner, or coming unawares upon the rider.

Care must be taken to make the STOP _steadily_; _not_ by a _sudden jerk_ upon the _bit_; by doing so the horse, if "tender mouthed," will be made to rear and plunge. To make the horse stop properly, the bridle-hand must be kept low, and the knuckles turned down. The rider's body must be well thrown back; he must have a steady feeling of both reins, and, _closing_ both legs for a moment, so keep his horse well up to hand. N.

B.--The rider's hands always must be eased as soon as halted.

LEAPING.