Riding and Driving for Women

by Belle Beach

Gymkhana Games at Country Show

Another suitable event for an in-door show is tandem riding which has become deservedly popular. The horse one rides is saddled and the reins and all appointments are the same as for ordinary riding, with the exception that the bridle has the usual D’s similar to those of the wheeler of the tandem, through which the reins of the leader pass. The leader has a harness which consists of a pad with terrets and a driving bridle without winkers and whatever form of bit may best suit the individual horse. The reins are of white buckskin, the size of light driving

tandem lead reins. There should be about a half a horse’s length between the two horses. The best and most practical way of holding the reins I have found to be as follows: Treat the curb and snaffle reins of the horse you are riding as if they were one rein and separate them both by the middle and third fingers; that is to say, the near curb is laid on top of the near snaffle rein and they both pass between the middle and third fingers. The off snaffle is laid on top of the off curb rein and they pass between the first and middle fingers. The ends come up between the thumb and forefinger. The near lead rein passes under the middle finger and up through the hand, coming out between the third and fourth fingers. The off lead rein passes down between the third and fourth fingers and passes out under the middle finger. An ordinary light driving whip is held in the usual way for driving in the right hand, and the right hand is held in readiness to assist the left and particularly to turn the leader. Horses, with a little training, are easily ridden or driven in this way and can be taught to jump and go through complicated evolutions. This tandem riding is a suitable event for winter entertainments in clubs and riding-schools.

INDEX

• Appointments, hunting, [74], [75];
  • show ring, [245–249];
  • trap, [273].
• Arms, position of, in riding, [14], [19], [27].
• Army, fashion of mounting, [48], [49–51];
  • seat, [42], [44].
• Astride, riding, [37–57];
  • holding reins in, [27];
  • correct position for, [40];
  • the close seat in, [44], [45], [54–57].

• Backing, a horse, [87];
  • of horse, [105].
• Balance, [4], [5], [6], [12], [45];
  • importance of, [56], [57].
• Balance strap, [143], [144].
• Balking, [104], [106].
• Bareback riding, [39], [45], [46].
• Bearing reins, adjustment of, [269–272];
  • in pair driving, [271].
• Belt, riding, [126].
• Bits, driving, [264–267].
• Bits, riding, adjustment of, [154–156];
  • position of, [153];
  • varieties of, [76], [145], [146], [150–152].
• Bitting, in pair driving, [266], [267].
• Body, position of, in riding, [6], [7].
• Boots, riding, [74], [121–125];
  • for cross-saddle, [130–131].
• Brake, the, [254], [255].
• Breastplate, [75], [76], [148], [149], [151], [152].
• Breeches, riding, [74], [109], [120], [121];
  • for cross-saddle, [131].
• Breechings, [273].
• Bridle, the, [76], [144–147], [151].
• Bridle-hand, the, [15].
• Bridoon, the, [145], [146], [151].
• Bucking, [45], [105], [106].
• Buckles, [16], [145], [146], [273], [279].

• Cantering, [84], [85], [88].
• Caressing a horse, [99], [100].
• Catching the thong, [219–222], [234].
• Cavesson, the, [76], [146–148].
• Check-rein, the, [272].
• Cheek pieces, [145], [146].
• Children, riding for, [4], [5], [38], [45];
  • ponies for, [176], [177].
• “Clucking,” [101].
• Coat, riding, [111–114];
  • for cold weather, [119];
  • raincoat, [109], [118], [119];
  • top-coat, [119];
  • for cross-saddle, [131].
• Collars, Dutch and Kay, [245], [274–278].
• “Combination horse,” the, [159], [170–173].
• Companion, riding with, [92], [101], [106], [107].
• Confidence in horse, [30].
• Conformation, in saddle-horse, [186], [187].
• Controlling a horse, [29], [30], [99], [100].
• Coupling reins, adjustment of, [267–269].
• “Cowboy” costume and saddle, [43].
• Crop, position of, [18], [19];
  • in hunting, [75], [129].
• Cross-saddle, disadvantages of, [37], [38];
  • dress for, [109], [130], [131];
  • types of, [41], [42], [155].
• Curb reins, [15–17], [26];
  • reversing position of, [24], [25], [28];
  • tightening, [23], [24].
• Cushion, driving, [198], [246].

• Dealers in horses, [181–185].
  • from the cross-saddle, [51–54].
• Dismounting, from the side-saddle, [35], [36];
• Docking, [241–244].
• Dress, driving, [223], [259–261].
  • side-saddle, [73–75], [108–130];
  • prices of riding clothes, [132].
• Dress, riding, cross-saddle, [39], [130], [131];
• Driveways, going up, [253].
  • four-in-hand, [217–232];
  • getting length of reins, [196];
  • hints on, [250–258];
  • inspection of horse, harness, and trap, [193], [195];
  • methods of holding reins, [199–203], [210], [211];
  • position, [198];
  • pulling up, [204–206];
  • shortening and lengthening reins, [201], [207], [208], [210];
  • starting, [211], [212];
  • stepping into trap, [194–197];
  • stepping out of trap, [215], [216];
  • tandem driving, [232–240];
  • theory of correct driving, [200], [208];
  • use of whip, [200], [212], [213].
• Driving, [193] et seq.;