The lady holding the falling folds of her habit in both hands, walks up
to the horse's head, or side; but never behind him, lest he should kick
at her.
There should be two persons in attendance, the groom should stand before
the horse's head, with a hand on each side of the bridle, close to his
mouth, to keep him steady; the gentleman takes the reins in his left
hand, separating them with his forefingers, the lady receives them in
her right hand, in like manner, and lets them glide gently and evenly
through her fingers, until her hand reaches the near crutch, which she
takes hold of; and having passed the whip over the saddle, she holds it
also in her right hand. Standing close to the near side of the saddle,
and facing the gentleman who has taken a lock of the mane in his left
hand, the lady places her left foot, which he stoops to receive, full in
his right hand, lets the habit fall from her left hand, which she places
upon his right shoulder, leaning thereon, and assisted by her hold on
the crutch, she springs up from her right instep, as uprightly as
possible, having been careful not to place her left foot too far
forward, but keeping it directly under her, she straightens her left
knee and assumes an upright position; the gentleman, when he feels her
spring, accelerates the movement, by simultaneously lifting his hand
high enough, to place the lady on the saddle, she steadying herself, by
the hold she has with her right hand, seats herself, and places her
right leg between the two outward pommels, the gentleman places her foot
in the stirrup, and she takes the reins in her left hand. To adjust the
habit, the lady raises herself by placing her right hand on the off
pommel and standing in her stirrup, the gentleman shakes the back part
of the skirt into its place, she re-seats herself, and raising her right
knee to free the habit, the gentleman assists to adjust the front part
of the skirt by gently drawing it forward.