_A lady's riding dress_, should be neat, and compact, at the same time
she should carefully avoid the slightest approach to a _mannish_
appearance; she may study the becoming, provided there be nothing in her
whole toilette likely to become disarranged or loosened by wind, or
violent exercise. The hair should be so arranged that it cannot be blown
about the eyes, and the hat should be perfectly secured on the head. So
much for outward appearance, in other respects comfort alone should be
studied.
_The whip_, should be light, and stiff. When too pliable, a lady
frequently touches her horse with it unintentionally, thereby teasing
and exciting him, and moreover such a whip is useless as an "aid."
_The lady's bridle_, should be, what is called a double bitted bridle,
consisting of a bit with a curb-chain; and a snaffle, two separate
head-stalls, united by one brow-band, each, with a separate rein.
The _curb-bit_ is a very powerful implement, the best for all purposes
is a light one; in choosing a bit for a horse, the distance between the
cheeks, should accord with the width of the horse's mouth; they should
be of an average length, and the mouth-piece should be only sufficiently
arched, to admit of the horse's tongue passing freely underneath it. The
bit should be placed in the horse's mouth, so that the mouth-piece be
one inch above the lower tusk, the curb chain should be laid flat, and
smooth under the jaw, and so loose, as to allow a finger to pass freely
inside of it.
The _snaffle_ acts as an auxiliary to the curb-bit, and is placed above
it in the horse's mouth, it should bear slightly upon the corners of the
mouth, but not so as to wrinkle the cheeks.
For a person who has not a light hand, the curb-bit may, with advantage,
be placed a little higher in the horse's mouth; and when the mouth may
be wanting in delicacy, it may be lowered a little, but it should never
touch the tusk, or it will fret the horse.
The _reins_ should be soft, flexible, and of a good quality, the rein
which is attached to the curb-bit is usually fastened in the centre by a
sewing, while that attached to the snaffle may be known, by its having a
small buckle in the centre.
_Throat-strap_ should not be buckled too tightly, but only sufficiently
so, to prevent the headstalls of the bridle, from getting out of place.
_Martingales_, though frequently used, are very seldom necessary if the
horse has been educated, and taught to carry his head properly, and to
be _obedient to the bit_; but if a horse carries his head high, or be
unsteady and fretful, then a light running martingale will be found of
service; it must however be attached to the snaffle reins, and never to
the curb-bit reins.
The _saddle_ should be roomy, but not too large, it should in short, be
made to fit the person. The third crutch is indispensable, as it renders
the seat so much more secure, and if properly fitted, it never
incommodes the rider. The saddle should be placed on the horse's back,
so as not in the least to interfere with the action of the horse's
shoulder, and care must be taken that the pad, or stuffing, only rests
on the horse's ribs, leaving in the centre a thorough channel, over the
spine.
_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; it is further desirable that
the horse should possess elegance of figure, power, and action, with
speed in all his paces. 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.