How I Learned to Ride (Tolstoy)
Division into chapters is editorial.
Fathers decision and the boys determination to learn riding
When Leo was a young boy, he and his brothers followed a strict routine of daily studies, with recreation limited to Sundays and holidays. One day, their father made an important decision about their education, declaring that the children must learn to ride and should be sent to the riding-school. As the youngest of the brothers, Leo eagerly asked if he too could learn to ride.
His father initially expressed concern, warning that Leo would fall down. However, when the boy began to beg and almost cried, his father relented with a stern warning.
All right, you may go, too. Only look out! Don't cry when you fall off. He who does not once fall down from a horse will not learn to ride.
When Wednesday arrived, all three brothers were taken to the riding-school. They entered through a large porch, then proceeded to a smaller one, before reaching the main riding area - a very large room with sand instead of a floor. The space was filled with gentlemen, ladies, and boys like themselves. The riding-school was dimly lit and filled with the smell of horses, the sound of snapping whips, calls to horses, and the striking of hoofs against wooden walls.
First time on horseback and the inevitable fall
Initially frightened and unable to see clearly, Leo watched as their valet called the riding-master and requested horses for the boys to learn riding. The master agreed but observed that Leo was very small. The valet assured him that the boy had promised not to cry when he fell down, which made the master laugh before he went away.
Three saddled horses were brought, and the boys removed their cloaks and descended to the riding-school. Leo's brothers began riding around the master at first slowly, then at a trot. Then they brought a special pony for Leo - a red horse with a cut-off tail called Ruddy.
The master laughed and told Leo to get on his horse. Leo felt both happy and afraid, trying to act inconspicuously. Being too small to reach the stirrup on his own, the master lifted him onto the saddle, joking that the young master weighed only about two pounds.
I was both happy and afraid, and tried to act in such a manner as not to be noticed by anybody.
At first the master held Leo by the hand, but seeing that his brothers rode without assistance, Leo begged to be released. When asked if he was afraid, Leo claimed he was not, though he was actually very frightened because Ruddy kept dropping his ears, which Leo interpreted as anger. The master warned him not to fall and let go. Initially, Ruddy went at a slow pace and Leo sat up straight, though he feared slipping off the sleek saddle.
When the master asked if he was secure in the saddle, Leo claimed he was, so the master commanded a slow trot. Ruddy began jogging Leo, but he remained silent and tried not to slip. The master praised him as a fine young gentleman, which pleased Leo greatly. However, when the master's friend approached and began talking, the master stopped watching Leo carefully.
Suddenly Leo felt himself slipping to one side on the saddle. He wanted to straighten up but was unable to do so. Though he wanted to call out to the master to stop the horse, he thought it would be disgraceful and kept silent. The master continued talking with his friend, repeatedly saying "Well done, young gentleman!" without looking. Leo slipped further to one side, becoming very frightened and thinking he was lost, but felt ashamed to cry.
I thought that I was lost; but I felt ashamed to cry. Ruddy shook me up once more, and I slipped off entirely and fell to the ground.
Ruddy stopped, and the master finally noticed that Leo was no longer on the horse. He declared that his young gentleman had dropped off and walked over to check on him. When Leo told him he was not hurt, the master laughed and commented that a child's body is soft, though Leo felt like crying.
Getting back up and mastering the skill
Despite his fall and the urge to cry, Leo asked to be put back on the horse. The master lifted him onto Ruddy again, and this time Leo managed to stay on without falling. This marked a turning point in his riding education.
Thus we rode twice a week in the riding-school, and I soon learned to ride well, and was not afraid of anything.