Without a knowledge of these, the fair equestrian, when riding in
public, would be exposed to considerable inconvenience, and, often, to
no slight degree of danger.
By a generally understood compact, persons, whether riding or driving,
when proceeding in opposite directions, pass, each on his or her own
_near_, or left-hand, side, of the road; and when on a parallel course,
the faster party goes by the other, on the _off_, or right. In other
words, when the former is the case, the right hands of the parties
meeting, are towards each other; and, in the latter, the left hand of
the faster, is towards the right hand of the slower. It follows,
therefore, that when the rider is about to meet horses or carriages, she
should take her ground on her _near_, or left, side of the road; and,
when about to pass those travelling in the same direction with, though
at a less speedy pace than, herself, on her right, or _off_. In meeting
one rider, or vehicle, and, at the same time, passing, by superior
speed, another, she must leave the first, on her right, and the second,
on her left.
It will not be inexpedient, under the present head, to make some
observations as to which side the lady should take, when riding in
company with a gentleman. Adams, a teacher of equitation, and the
author of a work on the subject, remarks, that the only inducements for
a gentleman to ride on the left of a lady, would be, that, by having his
right hand towards her, in case of her needing assistance, he might, the
more readily and efficiently, be enabled to afford it, than if he were
on the opposite side; and, should any disarrangement occur in the skirt
of her habit, he might screen it until remedied. On the other hand, our
author observes, with great good sense, though in terms somewhat
homely,--addressing, it is to be noticed, his remarks to
gentlemen,--"the inconvenience of riding on the left of the lady, is,
that if you ride near, to give her any assistance, you are liable to
rub, or incommode, the lady's legs, and alarm her; and the spur is
liable to catch, or tear, the lady's habit: if the roads are dirty, your
horse, likewise, bespatters the lady's habit. On the right hand of the
lady, these inconveniences do not occur, if you ride ever so close; and
you are situated next the carriages, and the various objects you meet,
which, in narrow roads, or, passing near, might intimidate a lady. For
these reasons, I think it most proper to take the right hand of a lady."
[Illustration]