CHAPTER I.

THE HORSE.

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.--Selection of a horse, and points to be observed.--Suitable gaits for the several conformations of riders.--The fast or running walk.--Various kinds of trotting.--The jog trot undesirable.--Temperament of the horse to be taken into consideration.--Thorough-bred horses.--Low-bred horses.--Traits of thorough and low bred horses.--Purchasing a horse; when to pay for the purchase.--Kindness to the horse instead of brutality.--Advantages of kind treatment of the horse.--Horses properly trained from early colt-life, the best.--Certain requirements in training a horse for a lady.--Ladies should visit their horses in the stable.--Ladies of refinement, occupying the highest positions in the civilized and fashionable world, personally attend to their horses.--Nature of the horse.--Unreliable grooms; their vicious course with horses intrusted to their care.--Care required in riding livery-stable horses. 13