i64 LADIES' RIDING. 



At the same time she Hfts up the skirt of her habit with 

 her left hand. The gentleman who is to assist her to 

 mount, bends down and takes her foot in the palms 

 of both hands, while she places her left hand, arm 

 straight, on his right shoulder. In order to mount, 

 she has simply to straighten her left leg and stand 

 on the gentleman's hands, while keeping her balance 

 with her right hand on the pommel and her left on his 

 shoulder. He will then be able to raise her, with the 

 utmost ease, to a sitting position on the saddle. The 

 interval between the moment she straightens her knee, 

 and when he begins to raise her, is almost imperceptible 

 if the lady is properly put on her horse. It is most 

 important for the beginner to understand the system of 

 mounting, which is simplicity itself. Many ladies are 

 rendered saddle-shy (if I may use the term) by gentle- 

 men, who knew nothing about it, having tried, and failed, 

 to put them on their horses on previous occasions. In 

 ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, it has been the man's 

 fault. Perhaps, from knowing no better, or from a desire 

 to show off his strength, he has used only one hand. He 

 may have brought her foot too much forward. Or, worst 

 betke of all, he may have attempted to raise her before 

 she had straightened her knee and rested her weight on 



