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gentleman quietly they will always carry a lady in the same 

 style, though they may not perhaps be suitable to her seat or 

 hand. The directions for holding the reins, and for their use, 

 elsewhere given, apply equally well to ladies, the only difference 

 being that the knee prevents the hand being lowered to the 

 pommel of the saddle. This is one reason why the neck requires 

 to be more bent foi the gentleman^s use, because, if it is straight, 

 or at all ewe-necked, the hands being high raise the head into 

 the air and make the horse more of a ^^ star-gazer '' than he 

 otherwise would be. Many ladies hold the reins as in driving. 

 It is in some respects better, because it allows the hand to be 

 lower than the gentleman's mode, and the ends of the reins fall 

 better over the habit. In mounting, the horse is held steadily, 

 as for a gentleman's use, taking care to keep him well up to the 

 place where the lady stands, from which he is very apt to slide 

 away. The gentleman assistant then places his right hand on 

 his right knee, or a little below it, and receives the lady's left 

 foot. Previously to this she should have taken the rein in her right 

 hand, which is placed on the middle crutch, then, with her left 

 hand on the gentleman's shoulder and her foot in his hand, she 

 makes a spring from the ground and immediately stiffens her 

 left leg, using his hand, steadied by his knee, as a second foun- 

 dation for a spring, and then she is easily lifted to her seat by 

 the hand following, and finishing her spring with what little 

 force is required. As she rises the hand still keeps hold of the 

 crutch, which throws the body sideways on the saddle, and then 

 she lifts her right knee over the middle crutch. After this she 

 lifts herself up from the saddle, and the gentleman draws her 

 habit from under her until smooth, he then places her left foot 

 in the stirrup, including with it a fold of her habit, and she is 

 firmly seated, and should take her reins and use them as directed 

 for the gentleman. The great mistake which is constantly made 

 in mounting is in the use of the lady's knee, which should be 

 carefully straightened the moment it can be effected, for if kept 

 bent it requires a great power to lift a lady into the saddle, 

 whereas, with a good spring and a straight knee, she ought to 

 weigh but a few pounds in the hand. The lady's seat is very 

 commonly supposed to be a weak one, and to depend entirely 

 upon balance ; but this is the greatest possible mistake, and 

 there can be no doubt, from what is seen in private as well as ia 



