INTRODUCTION THIS book does not pretend to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject of horse vomanship. It is offered merely as a collection of the most important points gleaned in my career as a horse-lover and professional horsewoman. IYhile from experience alone a rider may evolve good form if she is a natural born horsenoman, yet this is so rare that, with most of us, a knou ledge at the start of the general fundamental principles nhich are the basis of form in riding and driving, is essential. I t nas my good fortune to have my mother, Airs. Emily S. Beach, lay the foundation for me and, similarly, these chapters may aid some of my readers. Sothing in this book is hearsay. That nhich takes but a moment to tell has taken me years to learn learned as a pupil learned as a teacher learned by observation learned by exhibition, by many a triumph, by many a heart-break much of it a pleasure, much a hard task, but repaid always by my comrades through it all-the horses. I desire to express my thanks to llessrs. Breuster Co., hlr. Herman Haas, Messrs. Martin Martin, JIessrs. Vhippey, Steggall Co., The Durland Co., and Air. P. nardi for the many illustrations and suggestions nhich they have kindly given me. hIany of the illustrations are from photographs m. hich my friends have been kind enough to send me. P-- RT I-RIDING CHAITER PAC. E I . FORM IS RIDISG . . . . . . . . . . . J CONTENTS CH ZPIER PACE 1 1 BITS AND BEARINGR EINS . . . . . . . 264 XIS . GYMKHANA . MEs AND SUGGESTIO F N O S R PRI V I V E H ORSE S HOWS . . . 2s2 ILLUSTRATIONS Iortrait of Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . F ro71tispirct PACE Correct losition of Bad. in Side-Saddle . . . . . . . . . 6 Incorrect losition of Body . .. . . . . . . . . . . 7 Correct fosition of Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . i norller Position of Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Incorrect Iosition of Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . Incorrect Position of Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . Correct losition -irh Horse in Action . . . . . . . . . . llie losition of the Child on the Left of the Picture is Correct and that of the Child on the Right is Incorrect . . . . Correct Posirion of Reins . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re. ersing Position of Curb and Snaffle Reins . . . . . . . Correct Position for Park Riding . . . . . . . . . . . Reins in Both Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hIounting L-itllout. Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . IIounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Dismounting with Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 I isn ountingw ithout Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Correct Costume for Young Girls Riding . Astride . . . . . 39 Correct Position for Riding . A stride . . . . . . . . . . 40 Ihe CO-So- Testern Costume and Saddle . . . . . . 43 3Iounting English Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, lounting English Fashion . Another Va- . . . . . . . . 47 IIounting Alilitar-Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 lIounting Either Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Dismounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 Dismounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 . c-r Post and Rail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A High Jumper and Hunter Taconite . . . . . . . . . 60 xi ILLUSTRATIONS Giving Him His Head Over a Jump Heatherbloom . . . . Positions of Hands in Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . Side. Saddle. Position Rising. Hands and Body Forward . . . Astride. Position of Legs. Hands. and Body at Top of Jump . .SideSaddle. Front View. Rising . . . . . . . . . . . Coming Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Good Type of Hunter. Bred in Virginia Philosopher . . . A Good Type of Hunter. Bred in the North Ripple . . . . Correct Hunting Costume . . . . . . . . . . . . ...