If you think it possible that you may be easily discouraged, and that your first appearance in the riding-school will be your last, you need not buy any skirt, for you will find several in the school dressing-room, and, for once, you may submit to wearing a garment not your own.  Shall you buy trousers or tights?  Wait till you decide to take lessons before buying either, first to avoid unnecessary expense, and second, because until experience shall show what kind of a horsewoman you are likely to be, you cannot tell which will be the more suitable and comfortable.  Laced boots, a plain, dark underskirt, cut princess, undergarments without a wrinkle, and no tight bands to compress veins, or to restrain muscles by adding their resistance to the force of gravitation make up the list of details to which you must give your attention before leaving home.  If you be addicted to light gymnastics you will find it beneficial to practise a few movements daily, both before taking your first lesson and as long as you may continue to ride.

First—­Hold your shoulders square and perfectly rigid, and turn the head towards the right four times, and then to the left four times.

Second—­Bend the head four times to the right and four times to the left.

Third—­Bend the head four times to the back and four times to the front.  These exercises will enable you to look at anything which may interest you, without distracting the attention of your horse, as you might do if you moved your shoulders, and thus disturbed your equilibrium on your back.  Feeling the change, he naturally supposes that you want something of him, and when you become as sensitive as you should be, you will notice that at such times he changes his gait perceptibly.

Fourth—­Bend from the waist four times to the right, four to the left, four times forward, and four times backward.  These movements will not only make the waist more flexible, but will strengthen certain muscles of the leg.

Fifth—­Execute any movement which experience has shown you will square your shoulders and flatten your back most effectually.  Throw the hands backward until they touch one another, or bring your elbows together behind you, if you can.  Hold the arms close to the side, the elbows against the waist, the forearm at right angles with the arm, the fists clenched, with the little finger down and the knuckles facing each other, and describe ellipses, first with one shoulder, then with the other, then with both.  This movement is found in Mason’s School Gymnastics, and is prescribed by M. de Bussigny in his little manual for horsewomen, and it will prove admirable in its effects.  Stretch the arms at full length above the head, the palms of the hands at front, the thumbs touching one another, and then carry them straight outward without bending the elbows, and bend them down, the palms still in front, until the little finger touches the leg.  This movement is recommended by Mason and also by Blaikie, and as it is part of the West Point “setting up” drill, it may be regarded as considered on good authority to be efficacious in producing an erect carriage.  Stand as upright as you can, your arms against your side, the forearm at right angles, as before, and jerk your elbows downward four times.