T. A. Jenkins

“ Riding for recreation, and riding for improvement, are distinct things, yet both are necessary. Many persons unacquainted with the principles of “Horsemanship,” can perceive no other excellence, than riding boldly, and riding fast, and some even assert, that a horse broken by a riding master, has been spoiled; this idea is easily accounted for, as the better a horse is broken or educated, the more unsuited he is for an awkward rider. ”

“ A good rider foresees the necessity for an animation, before the horse actually abates his speed, or loses the ensemble of his action, and the grace and spirit of his deportment.
It is much easier to maintain, than to restore a horse’s animation; therefore, the whip, the hand, the leg, or the voice, should do its office a few moments before, rather than at a time, when doing so has become indispensable. A slight motion of the fingers of the bridle hand, serves as an excellent animation ”

“ These errors may creep on a person, who has not been confirmed in the principles by sufficient practice; but when habits of good riding are once firmly established, the ease and liberty the rider assumes, will not exceed propriety, risk her security, nor abandon, nor baffle her horse,—her hand will keep its situation and properties, though the body be turned to any extreme for the purpose of conversing, and the like, nor will the body by any freedom it takes, throw itself out of balance, nor take the liberty, when it cannot be done with safety. ”

“ Resistance in horses, is often a mark of strength and vigour, and proceeds from high spirits, but punishment would turn it into vice; a timorous rider, or a passionate person, would alike spoil the horse; the former, by suffering him to have his own will, establishes bad habits, and creates new ones; for horses find out many ways, and means of opposing what is demanded to them; many will [28] imperceptibly gain a little every day on their riders; the lady must however always treat the horse kindly, at the same time show him that she does not fear him. ”

“ When a horse resists, or suddenly becomes uneasy in his gait, instead of punishing the animal; the bridle, saddle, girths, &c., should be examined, to ascertain the cause, and remedy it. For want of this necessary precaution, the poor animal is often used ill, without reason, and being forced into despair, is in a manner obliged to act accordingly, be his temper and inclination ever so good.
Weakness frequently drives horses into being vicious, when any thing beyond their strength is required of them: great care should therefore be taken, to ascertain from what cause the opposition arises. ”

“ Some horses have a vicious habit of turning round suddenly; instead of endeavouring to prevent him, in which the lady would in all probability be foiled, were she to try to do so by force; the better plan is, to turn the horse smartly round to the side to which he is turning, until his head has made a complete circle, and he finds to his astonishment, that he is precisely in the place from which he started. ”

“ The other, from want of reason, and temper, enrages the horse, and causes him to become vicious. Horses of a bad disposition or temper, are exceedingly subtle, and watch their opportunity; they first, as it were, feel for their rider’s firmness of seat, and her resolution, and are sure to defend themselves upon that point, on which they expect she will attack them; now, the object of the lady in this contest must be, to frustrate the horse’s intentions, and protect herself from injury in the struggle. ”

“ Though the ordinary modes of riding may gratify, and convey one on a horse’s back, wherever the will directs, yet, from want of knowledge of the true principles of riding, one is continually exposed to innumerable hazards. ”

“ To conclude, a lady on horseback cannot look too quiet; she should appear perfectly at her ease, and in perfect temper with her horse; in short whether natural, or acquired, she should seem, “born with a sweet temper, a light hand, and a good seat.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ It is a common error to suppose, that a rider can support a horse when falling, lift him over a leap, or hold him up, they are mechanical impossibilities. Were a similar weight attached to the thin rein of a lady’s bridle, could the lady lift it with her left hand. A pull from the curb, will indeed give the horse so much pain in the mouth, that he will throw up his head, and the rider flatters herself that she has saved her horse from falling ”

“ 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 ”

“ When proceeding along a road, the rule is, to keep to the left side of it, but when about to pass those travelling in the same direction, though at a less speedy pace; to pass on their right. A party meeting another passes to the right, that is, the right hands of the parties meeting, are towards each other.
A gentleman riding with a lady, should be on her right side, as on that side, if the road be dirty, he does not bespatter the lady’s habit, and on that side also, he is situated next the carriages, and various objects they meet, or which may be passing near them. ”

“ When a horse refuses to advance, and probably whipping would increase his obstinacy, or make him rear, or bolt away in an opposite direction, it is advisable, on the same principle, to make him walk backwards, until he evinces a willingness to advance: should the rider not mind her horse giving a kick or two, a couple of smart cuts over the croup, will generally prove successful. ”

“ The voice, the leg and the whole body, may be employed to soothe and encourage. High mettled or fretful horses, it is often necessary to soothe, and timid ones to encourage. A spirited animal is frequently impatient when first mounted, or if a horse or carriage pass him at a quick rate; in either case, the rider should endeavor to soothe her horse, by speaking to him in a calm gentle tone; she should keep her whip as motionless as possible, taking even more care than usual, that its lash do not touch his flank, her [25] seat should be easy, her leg still, and her bridle hand steady. ”

“ 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. ”

“ If a lady have the misfortune to be mounted on a runaway horse, she may avoid evil consequences, if she can but contrive to retain her self-possession. She must endeavor also to retain her seat at all hazards, sitting well back and perfectly quiet, for the least symptom of alarm on her part, will increase the terror, or determination of the horse. ”

“ Animations should be used in all cases, when the horse, contrary to the rider’s inclination, either decreases his speed, droops his head, bears heavily and languidly upon the bit, or begins to be lazy and slovenly in the performance of his pace. ”

“ A lady’s horse should be sure footed, but the best become careless. When a horse trips, he should be kept more than usually collected. It is useless to whip a horse after stumbling, as it is also after shying, for it is clear, he would not run the risk of breaking his knees nor his nose if he could help it. A bad horsewoman throws her horse down, which a good horsewoman does not do. ”

“ A lady’s horse must be perfectly steady, and thoroughly trained, before she attempts to put him to a leap. Leaping is beneficial, as it tends to confirm the seat, and enables the rider more effectually to preserve her balance, should she ever be mounted upon an unsteady, or vicious horse. ”

“ Most persons are desirous to ride well, though not in a manége style. To ride well, a lady must be perfectly at her ease, with a hand capable of managing her horse, with facility to herself, and comfort to her animal. These requirements will be sooner attained, by a few proper lessons, with study and application, than by years of riding without them. ”

“ There are different methods of attaining the same end, and those which are the least obvious to the animal should be adopted; a lady cannot rival him in physical strength, but she may conquer him by [26] ingenuity, or subdue him by a calm determined assumption of superior power: severe flogging seldom produces good effect, and all quarrels between a horse and his rider should be avoided; on the other hand, too much indulgence may induce him to think that she is afraid of him ”

“ If leading with the near fore leg, the off hind, remains further back than the near one, he is said to be disunited; if leading with the proper fore leg, the off hind remains further back than the left, the pace must be rectified. The lady should learn to ascertain by the motion of the horse, if his canter be false or true, and she should acquire the means, of making him rectify his action. ”

“ If the horse do not exert himself sufficiently, or hang on the bit, he should be animated, by a play on the snaffle bridle; should he break into a trot, he must be checked, but the bearing upon the reins, must neither be so firm nor continued, as to make him stop. ”

“ When passing an object that the horse may be alarmed at, his head should be turned away from it, rather than towards it, a good rider thus prevents her horse from shying, while the young and bad rider, by the reverse treatment, of pulling a horse’s head towards the object, and whipping him up to it, makes her horse shy. The horse should never be allowed to evade passing the object, but he should be got past in the manner, that occasions the least alarm to, or contention with him. ”

“ The rider must always bear in mind, that every [16] 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. ”