ances, may learn some brilliant "stunts" without any "mouth" at all. These "stunts," however, are as valueless as the finished "airs" of the most proficient haute école graduate, so far as practical work goes-but the rudiments are the same all the time.

If one cares to train the horse to the various movements of backing, traversing, etc., etc., while he, the instructor, is on foot, the whip takes the place of the legs and heels, and collection is enforced by whip taps upon the croup which promote an attempt to go forward, to be met and counteracted by the hand upon the two curb reins, held about six inches from the bit and which act causes the horse to carry the neck and head as desired-well bent in the one case, perpendicular in the other. Thus the animal is collected at a stand, eased, led on a few steps, and collected again and again before he is allowed to advance at a walk while under collection. Thus he learns to "make" and bend himself even when at rest and to assume the poise he must afterward wear. Such work should never be too long continued lest the horse become restive, and possibly successfully rebellious. Once the posture is fairly well gained, and taken readily the animal should be induced to advance by slightly more severe whip taps and a yielding of the hand which will allow that without permitting too much change in the posture of the neck and head. A step at a time is enough, very slow and especial attention given to the style of carriage, and after a few successful steps-say ten to twenty-the horse should be eased and led to another point where the same rehearsal may continue. When fairly proficient the whip taps are transferred from the croup to the spot where the leg and heel pressure is applied upon the side, and thus the animal prepared to understand and respond intelligently to leg indications when mounted. The same gradual methods apply to teaching to back, to traverse, etc.-"little and often" is the receipt, and a step or two correctly performed always followed by an unhampered advance for several yards. No greater error can be made than to force a willing horse to back long distances, or to do any other work to the point of fatigue or annoyance-nothing is gained, everything may be lost. Correct "form" is what we are after and if the neophyte will cover five steps properly the graduate will go one hundred yards if you ask him. Traversing is taught in the same fashion simply by tapping with the whip until the pupil travels sideways upon two paths, the forehand always being a step in advance, the neck bent and the face toward the line of progress the ring-wall or the barnyard fence preventing direct advance; following this whip tuition the legs meet with prompt obedience when the animal is mounted.

Any one who will essay these methods,

however skeptical as to their value or necessity, will find his hands growing lighter in proportion as his animal makes himself; will be brought close to his charge's mouth when it is in action and must notice not only the effects upon it of the two bits, and the pose of the neck, and body therefrom, but will have a chance to realize what a marvelous structure that lower jaw is; what a wonderful blending of tissue paper skin and most delicate nerves and blood vessels; what great muscular power lies in the lips and tongue; how we really bit not the horse's mouth at all but his tongue; will notice the reasons for such and such fit of the bits and of the headstall; can study closely the effects of the two bits upon the lower jaw and the neck; note their different values; will see how certain conformation cannot yield or acquire certain carriage; will note the change of expression in eyes and those equally sensitive members, the ears; will find that a "dry mouth" i.e., dry and free from saliva in lip angles and on lower lips is always a dead and non-progressive mouth, and that moisture is promoted and saliva kept flowing by the delicate manipulations and vibration which finally becomes in the expert, automatic; will in short get closer to the "real horse" in one week on foot than he has ever done in all the previous years perched upon the creature's back-and if he learns nothing else, will never again dare to jerk, maul, saw, or other than most tenderly handle that marvelous arrangement upon which the bits rest-the horse's lower jaw.

It is almost certain-perfectly sure in fact that if any amateur takes the trouble to proceed thus far with his saddle horse or horses he will be tempted to further flights into the art, and will wish to essay, in however crude fashion, these performances which are regarded as the development of the "high school." If he does he will fail direfully, and certainly spoil a horse or two. Ride he ever so well he has not the seat, and he won't acquire it unless he forgets all he thinks he knows and starts afresh with a clean-wiped mind. There is probably not in all America one single amateur who possesses the seat, balance, attitude of upper body, position of leg, pliancy of pose, consequent exquisite "hands," patience, calmness, courage, and intuition necessary to acquire proficiency of the first-class in this most misunderstood and least appreciated art-whence one will do well and ease many sleepless hours, and much keen disappointment if he will stick to the A B C of it and leave the rest of the alphabet for those whose discretion is less well-developed.

Lack of space must, in magazine articles, always sadly hamper one. Readers are besought to remember the difficulties under which, for this reason, the writer labors, and to read not the article only, but the vast amount of matter "between the lines."