_How to prevent a Horse slipping his Girth._
"My dear Gambado," said Lord Rosier to the Doctor, "I know not how I
shall ever repay you for your good advice. I am your debtor, for two
things; first for inducing me to take up horseback exercise again, and
then for recommending me to your friend John Tattsall, who has furnished
me with a most excellent trotter, and one that does one good to ride
it."
"I am glad to hear it, my Lord: but to what purpose is your visit to me
this morning? You look the picture of health; I hope nothing is the
matter."
"Oh! dear no! Nothing is the matter with me; but, I thought I might,
without any intentional offence, just call and speak to you about the
horse. I hope I do not offend."
"By no means, my Lord; pray go on. Your Lordship will not impute to me
any thing wrong in the character of the horse?"
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"By no means, Doctor; by no means. I only sought your advice, because I
thought you so skillful that you could get me into the right method of
treating a horse."
"Humph!"
This was the first direct slap at the Doctor's _veterinary powers_. He
had a request from York to bring with him a _veterinary surgeon_; but he
was now consulted by a British nobleman about the treatment of a horse.
Well, thought the Doctor, let us hear the complaint; for after all it
may be the fault of the rider more than of the beast.
"What is the matter, my Lord?"
"It is simply this,--the creature, though in every other respect a
suitable one, has a strange propensity or habit of slipping his girths;
so that when I have rode out a mile or two, I find myself upon his rump;
and once, indeed, I happened to let go the reins, and the saddle came
over his tail, and I slipped off behind. He then quietly walked out of
his saddle and went away, leaving me to carry my own saddle to the
nearest hostelry, and to have a walk home, instead of a ride."
"My Lord, you acknowledge that it was your own fault for letting go the
reins. Never, under any circumstances, let the reins go out of your own
hands; if you do, you are sure to have a fall. The same, my Lord, with
all who hold the reins of government; a tight rein can always be
sufficiently slackened, when an improvement is required in the pace; but
once let them entirely go, and you have no longer any power to guide.
Your horse must run away, and you must have a fall."
"But what is a man to do, when he finds that the animal he rides gets
the bit into his mouth, and bores so strongly upon his arms that it
gives him the cramp in his muscles to hold the reins in his hands?"
"There you puzzle me. I confess, I should very soon give up riding such
a horse altogether. But," said the Doctor, looking at his watch, "if you
do not mind walking with me as far as Tattsall's, I think John could
give you better advice upon this head than I can. Come, it is worth the
trouble."
"With all my heart: I esteem it a favour. My groom shall lead the horse
to his stables, and we will walk on after him."
The Doctor and his noble patient were soon in John Tattsall's yard.
"John, I have brought Lord Rosier to you, to learn a lesson. He is in a
fix about a horse he bought of you, which he approves in every other
respect but that of slipping his girth; can you tell the gentleman how
to prevent it?"
"To be sure I can, Doctor, if the gentleman will only condescend to
give me a little attention. I will mount the horse myself, and show him
how I prevent the horse from slipping his girths." He did so; and when
he gave up the horse, he said, "There, sir, observe what I have done.
"Stick your feet, my Lord, home in the stirrups, press all your weight
thereupon, and so push the saddle forward. If the horse bores upon your
arms, bore him well with your legs the moment he lifts his head; the
saddle, if it has slipped, will immediately regain its position. And
when he bores his head down again, you have nothing to do but to repeat
the boring him in his sides; and as the horse suits your Lordship so
well, this will only form a little agreeable variety of exercise for the
benefit of your Lordship's health; which I am heartily glad to find so
greatly improved."
"Thank you, John; thank you, it will do, it will do!"
'Tis a bore, a horse to ride,
Slipping girths from side to side;
'Tis a bore with many pains,
For a man to lose the reins.
Keep your seat, and keep command,
And hold your bridle well in hand:
Fast and firm the steed will go.
And slips and slides you'll never know.