MOUNTING. 131 



capability to mount easily, she might make some pre- 

 liminary attempts to stand and support herself for a 

 few seconds on a gentleman's hands, with her left 

 hand on his shoulder and her right hand on the upper 

 crutch. When she finds that she can do this success- 

 fully, she may, when her leg is again straight, give 

 him a signal (or take one from him) to raise her to the 

 necessary height, so that she may sit in the saddle. If 

 she be very timid, she may practise mounting indoors, 

 with her right hand on the top of an upright piano, 

 and her left on a gentleman's shoulder as before. 

 Although it is usual for the gentleman to give the 

 words, " One, two! " as a signal for her to make her 

 spring and straighten her knee before he raises her, no 

 such caution is necessary ; for he will know, by feeling 

 her weight on his hands, when she is in a proper posi- 

 tion to be raised. 



Having arrived on the saddle, the lady places her 

 right leg over the crutch, while her attendant puts her 

 left foot in the stirrup, adjusts any elastic loops that 

 may be present, and straightens her skirt, as may be 

 required. She then takes up the reins. It is advis- 

 able for the lady not to touch the reins until she is 

 securely placed in the saddle and is ready to use them, 

 because the act of placing her right hand on the crutch 

 while holding the reins in it, is liable to render the horse 

 unsteady, and the reins are of no use to her until she 

 is firmly seated. 



If there is only one man to help the lady to mount, 

 he should place his left arm through the snaffle reins, 



9* 



