120 THE HORSE OWNER's 



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 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 

 foundation 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 side- 

 ways 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 un- 

 der 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 great power 

 to lift a lady into the saddle, whereas, with a good spring 

 a'ul a straight knee, she ought to weigh but a few pounds 

 in the iiand. 



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 ean be no doubt from 

 what is seen in private, as well as in the circus, that it 

 requires as great an effort of the horse to dislodge a good 

 female rider, as to produce the same effect upon a gentle- 

 man. Even with the old single cratch, there was a good 

 hold with the leg, but now that the third is added, the grip 



