The Ladies Equestrian Guide; 1857

Preface

Fam readers, and gentle critics. In launching this little bark on the wide ocean of censure and of praise, I crave your attention for a few moments, whilst I explain the motives that have urged me on so bold a venture. It is not, believe me, that I court publicity as an authoress; my vanity, largely as I may possess my sex’s share, can never lead me to hope for such an envied designation from these unpretending pages; much less would I have it supposed that, a desire to trench upon ground hitherto trodden by the more privileged sex, or the presumption of offering any suggestion for their enlightenment, has brought me thus prominently before you. But, as a woman, I write exclusively for the guidance of my own sex, well knowing the vast importance to the fair novice of a manual which brings her acquainted with that equal pride of prince and peasant—the horse—and with the fascinating and elegant science which teaches how to guide and iv PREFACE.

govern him, and how to guide and govern herself with respect to this noble creature. Would that the subject were in abler hands; still, in default of choicer diction, and a more intimate acquaintance with the rules of authorship, I offer them, in plain and simple phrase, the jottings of many a leisure hour, and the results of the long and careful study of an art, which has ever been to me an object of attention and delight.

Tt is constantly remarked that, although many books have been published which successfully impart a knowledge of riding to gentlemen, not one has appeared that can be regarded as a sufficiently comprehensive treatise for ladies, who are desirous of perfecting themselves in an accomplishment so peculiarly requiring, in their case, advice and instruction ;—more especially, for those fair equestrians, who, by distance or otherwise, are deprived of the assistance of qualified professional teachers, or of that of friends or relatives competent to act as their instructors. The acknowledged necessity, yet absence of such a guide,—the constant solicitation for hints upon the subject,—the unconscious awkwardness, and want of ease and confidence, painfully exhibiting itself in but too many fair riders of the present day, combined with

PREPACE. v their general ignorance of the equestrian “ savoir faire,’—and the long urged wishes of a large circle of friends and acquaintances,— are the inducements that have tempted me to put forth in their present form the gatherings of my own experience.

By some persons, it may perhaps be objected that, practice alone teaches to ride, and that, in an art like this, elaborate rules are uncalled for; by others also that, many of the principles here laid down are too generally known to need repetition; yet, if artificial measures of motion, and the imitation of a good carriage mend even our manner of walking, which nature has taught, and constant practice has at times improved, why should riding, which certainly is still more of an art, be supposed to be easily and sufficiently attained without the assistance of well authenticated rules? Daily experience proclaims the contrary. Do we not continually see ladies who present a good figure while standing on the ground, appearing on horseback helpless and awkward? And, in answer to these precepts being generally known, it is enough to observe how far they are from being practised, and how small is the community of feeling and intelligence found to exist between riders and their horses, to justify their being reproduced; with, it vi PREFACE.

is hoped, not the less impressiveness, for the form they have assumed in the hands of one who is of the same sex as are they to whom this work is addressed.

If I shall have satisfactorily explained the motives for intruding myself on your attention, your favouring judgment will assuredly go with my little bark in its onward course, and your sanction and approval be respectively the sunshine and the breeze that gallantly light and waft her into the desired hayven—of success.

Lonpon, July 1, 1857.

PLATES.

ERRATA.