THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE;
A HANDBOOK OF EQUITATION FOR LADIES, AND MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THESCIENCE OF RIDING, FROM THE PREPARATORY SUPPLING EXERCISES ON FOOT, TOTHE FORM IN WHICH A LADY SHOULD RIDE TO HOUNDS.
Reprinted from "The Queen" Newspaper.
By "VIEILLE MOUSTACHE."
LONDON:
THE "QUEEN" OFFICE, 346, STRAND.
1874.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY HORACE COX, 346, STRAND, W.C.
THE LADY'S HORSE.
INTRODUCTION.
Having received numerous applications from ladies desirous ofinformation, as to the true principles and practice of equitation, Iventure to put before the public, in book form, a series of articleswhich appeared originally in the columns of the Queen newspaper onladies' riding.
Commencing with the calisthenic practices so necessary to a young ladybefore beginning her mounted lessons, these papers enter into everydetail (less those of the Haut École de Manége) connected with thescience of riding as it should be acquired by all who wish to becomeefficient horsewomen. As the rules laid down are precisely those uponwhich I have successfully instructed a great number of ladies, as myexperience is of many years' standing, and acquired in the best schoolsin Europe, I trust the following pages may prove useful; for, while itis quite true that neither man nor woman can learn to ride by simplyreading a book on the subject, still a carefully-compiled manual ofequitation is always a ready means of refreshing the memory upon pointsof importance in the art, which, however clearly explained by the oralinstruction of a first-class master, may yet in time escape therecollection of the pupil.
"Vieille Moustache."
THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE.
CHAPTER I.
Riding, considered as a means of recreation, as a promoter of health, oras the best mode in which to display to the greatest advantage beautyand symmetry of face and form, is perhaps unequalled among the manyaccomplishments necessary to a lady.
Out of doors croquet may be interesting as a game, and fascinatingenough when a lady has an agreeable partner, but as an exercisephysically its healthfulness is doubtful.
There is too much standing about, often on damp grass, too little realexertion to keep the circulation up properly, and too many intervals ofquiescence, wherein a lady stands perfectly still (in a very gracefulattitude no doubt) long enough in the chill evening air to createcatarrh or influenza.
Archery, although a far more graceful exercise than croquet, is open tothe same objection as regards danger of taking cold.
Skating, though both healthful and elegant, is so seldom available asscarcely to be reckoned among the exercises beneficial to ladies.Moreover, it is attended with considerable danger in many cases.
To be well is to look well. Healthy physical exertion is indispensableto the former state, and in no way can it be so well secured as byriding. Mounted on a well-broken, well-bred horse, and cantering over abreezy down, or trotting on the soft sward, on the way to covert, a ladyfeels a glow of health and flow of spirits unattainable by any otherkind of out or in door recreation.
That the foregoing truths are fully ap