RIDING AND DRIVING
FOR WOMEN

INTRODUCTION

This book does not pretend to be an exhaustivetreatise on the subject of horsewomanship. It isoffered merely as a collection of the most importantpoints gleaned in my career as a horse-lover and professionalhorsewoman. While from experience alonea rider may evolve good form if she is a natural bornhorsewoman, yet this is so rare that, with most ofus, a knowledge at the start of the general fundamentalprinciples which are the basis of form in ridingand driving, is essential. It was my good fortuneto have my mother, Mrs. Emily S. Beach, lay thefoundation for me and, similarly, these chapters mayaid some of my readers.

Nothing in this book is hearsay. That whichtakes but a moment to tell has taken me years tolearn; learned as a pupil; learned as a teacher;learned by observation; learned by exhibition, bymany a triumph, by many a heart-break; much ofit a pleasure, much a hard task, but repaid alwaysby my comrades through it all—the horses.

I desire to express my thanks to Messrs. Brewster& Co., Mr. Herman Haas, Messrs. Martin & Martin,Messrs. Whippey, Steggall & Co., The Durland Co.,and Mr. P. Nardī for the many illustrations and suggestionswhich they have kindly given me. Manyof the illustrations are from photographs which myfriends have been kind enough to send me.