The first operation, preparatory to dismounting, is to bring the horse
to an easy, yet perfect, stop. If the lady be light and dexterous, she
may dismount without assistance, from a middle-sized horse: but, it is
better not to do so if the animal be high.
The right hand of the lady, when preparing to dismount, is to receive
the reins, and be carried to the off crutch of the saddle. The reins
should be held sufficiently tight to restrain the horse from advancing;
and yet not so firm as to cause him to back or rear; nor uneven, lest it
make him swerve.
The lady should next disengage her right leg, clearing the dress as she
raises her knee; remove her right hand to the near crutch; and then take
her foot from the stirrup.
Thus far the process is the same whether the lady dismount with or
without assistance.
If the lady be assisted, the gentleman, or groom, may either lift her
completely off the saddle to the ground; or, taking her left hand in his
left hand, place his right hand on her waist, and, as she springs off,
support her in her descent. She may also alight, if she be tolerably
active, by placing her right hand in that of the gentleman (who, in
this case, must stand at the horse's shoulder), and descend without any
other support. Should there be any objection to, or difficulty found in
alighting by either of these modes, the gentleman, or groom, may place
himself immediately in front of the lady, who is then to incline
sufficiently forward for him to receive her weight, by placing his hands
under her arms, and thus easing her descent.
[Illustration]
If the lady dismount without assistance, after the hand is carried from
the off to the near crutch, she must turn round so as to be able to
take, in her left hand, a lock of the horse's mane; by the aid of which,
and by bearing her right hand on the crutch, she may alight without
difficulty. In dismounting thus, without assistance, she must turn as
she quits the saddle, so as to descend with her face towards the horse's
side.
[Illustration]
By whatever mode the lady dismounts, but especially if she do so without
assistance, she should--to prevent any unpleasant shock on reaching the
ground--bend her knees, suffer her body to be perfectly pliant, and
alight on her toes, or the middle of her feet. She is neither to
relinquish her hold, nor is the gentleman, or groom, if she make use of
his ministry, to withdraw his hand, until she is perfectly safe on the
ground.
In order to dismount with grace and facility, more practice is required
than that of merely descending from the saddle after an exercise or a
ride. It is advisable to mount and dismount, for some days, several
times, successively, either before or after the ride;--commencing with
the most simple modes, until a sufficient degree of confidence and
experience is acquired to perform either of these operations in a proper
manner, with the mere aid of the assistant's hand.
[Illustration]