A Professional Rider Author:Mrs. Edward Kennard General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1903 Original Publisher: A. Treherne Subjects: History / General Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Millio... more »n-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IV THE RIGHT SORT OF CUSTOMER If Dick Garrard received no fortune with his wife, he soon made the discovery that she was likely to prove very useful to him in his business. Always fond of horses, and coming from a sporting stock, Margaret was never so happy as when in the saddle. Somewhat to Dick's surprise, he found that she could handle a certain class of animal better even than he did himself. He was what is generally called a " bruiser " on a horse. He had any amount of pluck and did not mind tumbling about. His critics said he was a capital hand on a regular brute. By dint of personal courage, a certain ferocity of character and an unsparing application of whip and spur, he bore the reputation of being able to cow the worst-mannered animal sooner or later. On the other hand, he was much less successful with a fine-mouthed, high- spirited steed, which required delicate handling. It was something of a revelation to Dick toperceive how well his wife got on with a fidgety, nervous creature, with which he completely lost patience. Nothing in the way of tricks or equine vagaries seemed to ruffle her equanimity. No matter how her mount might fuss, she remained cool and tranquil. Undoubtedly, particular dispositions suit certain animals. An impatient, irritable person should never bestride a horse who is his counterpart. The eager, peppery individual requires a good- tempered, placid charger and vice versa. There were yet two months before the end of the hunting season, and as she was likely to be useful, Dick kindly mounted Margaret a...« less