On approaching a horse, the skirt of the habit should be gracefully
gathered up, and the whip be carried in the right hand.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
It is the groom's duty, when the rider approaches, to gather up the
reins with his left hand, smoothly and evenly, the curb rein between,
and somewhat tighter than the bridoon, properly dividing them with his
fore-finger. The lady advancing, on the near side of the horse, to the
saddle, receives them a little more forward than the point of the
horse's shoulder, with her right hand, which still retains and passes
the whip over the saddle to the _off_ or right side. On taking the
bridle in this manner, her fore-finger is placed between the reins: the
groom then removes his hand, and the lady draws her own back, suffering
the reins to glide gently and evenly through her fingers, until she
reaches the near crutch of the saddle, which she takes with her right
hand, still holding the whip and reins, and places herself close to the
near side of the horse, with her back almost turned towards him. The
groom now quits his former post, and prepares to assist her to mount.
The horse being thus left to the lady's government, it is proper, that,
in passing her hand through the reins she should not have suffered them
to become so loose as to prevent her, when her hand is on the crutch,
from having a light, but steady bearing on the bit, and thus keeping the
horse to his position during the process of mounting. She next places
her left foot firmly in the right hand of the groom, or gentleman, in
attendance, who stoops to receive it. The lady then puts her left hand
on his right shoulder; and, straightening her left knee, bears her
weight on the assistant's hand; which he gradually raises (rising,
himself, at the same time) until she is seated on the saddle. During her
elevation, she steadies, and even, if necessary, partly assists herself
towards the saddle by her hands; one of which, it will be recollected,
is placed on the crutch, and the other on her assistant's shoulder. It
is important that she should keep her foot firm and her knee straight.
[Illustration]
If these directions be well attended to, she will find herself raised to
her saddle with but a trifling exertion, either, on her own part, or
that of the assistant. Should the latter be a lad only, or a groom not
much accustomed to this part of his business, he should use both hands
instead of one;--joining them by the fingers: indeed, this, generally
speaking, is the safer mode. The lady, in all cases, should take care
that her weight be well balanced on her left foot, from which she should
rise as perpendicularly as possible; above all things taking care not to
put her foot forward, but keeping it directly under her. The assistant
should not begin to raise her until she has removed her right foot from
the ground, and, by strengthening her knee, thrown her weight completely
into his hand.
[Illustration]
Having reached the saddle, while her face is still turned to the near
side of the horse, and before she places her knee on the pommel, the
assistant puts the lady's left foot in the stirrup, while she removes
her hand from the near to the off crutch of the saddle, holding the whip
and reins as before directed. She now raises herself on the stirrup by
the aid of her right hand, while the assistant, or the lady herself,
with her left hand, draws the habit forward in its place. She then
places her right knee between the crutches, and her seat is taken.
Should the back part of the habit at this time, or afterwards, in the
course of the ride, require any arrangement, the lady raises herself in
the stirrup, by strengthening her knee, and, with her left hand,
disposes her habit to her satisfaction.
[Illustration]