endurance, though they are exceedingly awkward in appearance. Turkistan is their native region, which lies north-east of the Caspian Sea; but their tribes are widely dispersed over Persia, Asia Minor, and Syria.

The Persians are great admirers of horsemanship, and a bad rider affords them infinite amusement. “An officer of an English frigate having gone ashore to visit the envoy, and being mounted on a very spirited horse, and a very bad rider, caused great entertainment to the Persian populace. The next day the man who supplied the ship with vegetables, and spoke a little English, said to the officer, ‘Don’t be ashamed, sir, nobody knows you—bad rider! I tell them you, like all English, ride well, but that time they see you very drunk!’ We were much amused at this conception of our national character. The Persian thought it would have been a reproach for a man of a warlike nation not to ride well, but none for a European to get drunk.”33-*

The Syrian horses are reared with the utmost tenderness and care; they are fondled and played with like children. The Syrian horse is equally good on mountainous, or stony ground, as on the plain; he is indefatigable, and full of spirit. The Timarli ride horses of the Syrian breed, mostly from their possessing these inestimable qualifications.

The Neapolitan horse.—This horse is small, but compact and strong; the head rather large; the neck short, and bull-shaped: the prototype of the horses represented on the bassi-relievi of ancient Roman sculpture. He is capable of living on hard fare, and undergoing great fatigue. He is frequently vicious and headstrong; this is chiefly owing to his harsh treatment; though very high-spirited, he would, with gentle usage, become extremely docile and good tempered. The districts of Apulia, Abruzzi, and parts of Calabria furnish this excellent animal. The Neapolitans have taken extreme pains in the breeding of their horses; they make great display of them in their streets during the Carnival, and through Lent. The aristocratic families have excellent studs of great spirit and beauty.

PART III.

ON THE PACES OF THE HORSE.

THE WALK.

Of all the paces, the walk is the easiest to the rider, provided he sits in the centre of his horse’s back, as it consists of an alternate depression of the fore and hind quarters.

The motion may be compared to the vibration of the beam of a pair of scales. The walk should be light, firm, and quick; the knee must be moderately bent, the leg should appear suspended in the air for an instant, and the foot fall perfectly flat to the ground.

It is very difficult to confine young and mettlesome horses to a walk; great good temper, with a firm light hand, are requisite to accomplish this. When such horses change to a trot they should be stopped for a minute or two, and then allowed to proceed again. If the animal carries his head well, ride him with a moderately loose rein, raising the hand when he tries to break into a trot.

THE TROT.

The trot is allowed, by professionals, to be the only just basis upon which equestrians can ever attain a secure and graceful seat, combined with confidence and firmness. The rider has more control over the motions of his body in this pace than any other: in this the body is well brought down into the saddle by its own weight, and finds its true equilibrium. When the rider wishes to make his horse trot, let him ease his reins and press the calves of his legs gently; when his horse is at a trot, let him feel both his reins, raise his horse’s forehand, and keep his haunches well under him.

THE CANTER.

The rider must have a light and firm feeling of both reins to raise his horse’s forehand; at the same time, with a pressure of both calves, to bring the animal’s quarters well under him, having a double feeling of the inward rein, and a strong pressure of the outward leg, to cause him to strike off in unison.

At all times the horse should be taught to lead off with EITHER fore leg; by doing so his legs will not be so much shaken, especially the off fore leg, which is the one he most generally leads off on. This must be the case when he is continually throwing the greater part of his weight upon the leading fore leg, as it comes to the ground, which causes lameness of the foot, and strains the back sinews of the legs. Being thoroughly taught to change his legs, the horse is better enabled to perform long journeys, with facility and comfort both to himself and his rider.

TURNING.

In the turn either to the right or left, the reins must be held quite evenly, so that the horse may be immediately made to feel the aid of the rider’s hands; he (the rider) must then have a double feeling on the inward rein, also retaining a steady feeling on the outward; the horse being kept up to the hand by a pressure of both legs, the outward leg being the stronger.

REINING BACK.

The rider should frequently practise reining back, which is of the utmost service both to himself and his horse: by it, the rider’s hand is rendered firm and materially strengthened; and the pliancy of wrist so essential to the complete management of the horse is achieved, likewise causing the body of the rider to be well thrown back and his chest expanded, thus forcing, and preserving, an erect position in the saddle. Also, the carriage of the horse becomes greatly improved; his head is maintained in its correct position, and he is compelled to work correctly on his haunches.

In “reining back,” the horseman requires a light and steady feeling of both reins, a pressure of both legs, so as to raise his horse’s forehand and keep his haunches well under him, at the same time easing the reins, and feeling them again after every step.

STOPPING.

None are thoroughly taught until quite AU FAIT in the stop. It is of far greater importance than may be usually imagined. In the first place, it shows the horse to be well under COMMAND, especially when the rider is able to do so instantaneously: it saves in the second place, many serious and inevitable accidents from carriages, horsemen, &c., such as crossing before suddenly pulling up, turning quickly round a corner, or coming unawares upon the rider.

Care must be taken to make the STOP