The American Horsewoman

A lady's horse is generally selected for his gentleness, soundness, good training, and freedom from vice, and the rider's management of him is usually so kind and considerate th...

"Look, when a painter would surpass the life, In limning out a well-proportioned steed, His art with Nature's workmanship at strife, As if the dead the living should exceed; So...

"What a wild thought of triumph, that this girlish hand Such a steed in the might of his strength may command! What a glorious creature! Ah! glance at him now, As I check him aw...

"Form by mild bits his mouth, nor harshly wound, Till summer rolls her fourth-revolving round. Then wheel in graceful orbs his paced career, Let step by step in cadence strike t...

In the trot, the horse moves his legs in the same diagonal manner as in the walk, the only difference being that in the trot they are moved more rapidly. When trotting regularly...

A correct seat is very seldom attained by the self-taught lady rider, for her attitude on the horse is so artificial that she cannot, like the gentleman rider, whose seat is mor...

"Soft thy skin as silken skein, Soft as woman's hair thy mane, Tender are thine eyes and true; All thy hoofs like ivory shine, Polished bright; oh, life of mine, Leap, and rescu...

A riding habit should be distinguished by its perfect simplicity. All attempts at display, such as feathers, ribbons, glaring gilt buttons, and sparkling jet, should be carefull...

"When troubled in spirit, when weary of life, When I faint 'neath its burdens, and shrink from its strife, When its fruits, turned to ashes, are mocking my taste, And its faires...

A novice in riding always experiences in a greater or less degree a sense of trepidation and embarrassment when, for the first time, a horse duly caparisoned for a lady rider is...

"And do you not love at evening's hour, By the light of the sinking sun, To wend your way o'er the widening moor, Where the silvery mists their mystery pour, While the stars com...

A lady's horse should be gentle, well-trained, and possess no vice.--Shying, and its treatment.--Shying sometimes due to defective vision, and at other times to discontent.--Bal...

"Now we're off like the winds to the plains whence they came; And the rapture of motion is thrilling my frame! On, on speeds my courser, scarce printing the sod, Scarce crushing...

A thorough knowledge of the management of the horse highly necessary for a lady.--Position in the saddle has an important influence.--Horses generally more gentle with women tha...

Origin and countries of the horse.--Earliest Scriptural mention of the horse.--Caligula's horse.--Horseback riding in the Middle Ages.--The Arab horse and his descendants.--Sele...

The absolute necessity for a correct seat.--Natural riders rarely acquire a correct seat.--The dead-weight seat.--The wabbling seat.--Essential to good and graceful riding that...

Saddle of ancient times, and the manner of riding.--Planchette.--Catherine de Medici deviser of the two-pommeled saddle.--M. Pellier, Sr., inventor of the third pommel.--English...

Advantages of learning to leap.--Requisites necessary in leaping.--The standing leap.--Position of the rider, rein-hold, and management of the horse, in the standing leap.--Poin...

Leading with the right foot, with the left foot.--The rapid gallop.--The canter.--The true canter.--To commence the canter; position of the rider, and management of the horse.--...

The hand gallop, a favorite gait with ladies.--Position and management of the reins, in the hand gallop.--Cautions to ladies when riding the hand gallop.--To manage a disobedien...

The movements of the horse in trotting.--The trot a safe gait for a lady.--The jog trot.--The racing trot.--The true trot.--The French trot.--The English trot; is desirable for...

Timidity in presence of a horse should be overcome.--First attempts at mounting.--Mounting from a horse-block.--Mounting from the ground.--Mounting with assistance from a gentle...

The movements of the horse in walking.--A good walk is a certain basis for perfection in other gaits.--A lady's horse should be especially trained to walk well.--Every change in...

Riding habit should not be gaudy.--Instructions concerning the material for riding habit, and how this should be made.--The waist.--The basque or jacket.--Length of riding habit...