46 BOW TO RIDE. 



The safest arrangement for side-saddles, to avoid risk of being hung up 

 by the stirrup, or dragged by the skirt, can be seen on our " Victoria " side- 

 saddles, with perfectly level seat, patented and adopted in England. We 

 have secured them for this country, and find them invaluable. With these 

 attachments, in case of accident, the foot is instantly released, and the skirt 

 of the habit falls clear of the saddle. 



The method of mounting is as follows : — 



Take the reins and whip in your right hand, and lay the fingers of it 

 firmly upon the top of the up-pommel, — grasping it, in fact ; then, with your 

 left hand, gather your skirt away from your left foot, and place this latter 

 in the hand of your assistant, bending your knee as you do so. When you 

 feel that his palm is firmly supporting the sole of your foot, take your left 

 hand from your habit skirt, and place it on his left shoulder, he being in 

 a slightly stooping position at the time. Then give him the signal. As you 

 say the word, straighten your knee, and make a slight spring upward, your 

 cavalier at the same instant raising himself to an erect position, without 

 letting his hand drop in the smallest degree. By this arrangement you will 

 reach your saddle with comfort and expertness. Be cautious also not to 

 touch your horse, when mounting, with your whip. 



As soon as you are secure upon your saddle, and have learned to feel at 

 home there, get your horse walked about with the reins looped over his 

 neck. Do not touch them at all at first, or trouble yourself about carrying 

 a whip, but rather devote your energies and attention to acquiring an even 

 balance, and learning the proper grip of the pommels, without which you 

 never can ride well. 



Do not lean heavily upon the stirrup, or force yourself to undue muscular 

 action ; nor will it be in all cases wise to thrust the left foot " home," as it 

 is called: better ride from the ball of it. Ascertain before starting that 

 your stirrup-leather is precisely the right length, in order that you may not 

 be induced to lean to the left side, owing to its being too long, or have your 

 knee uncomfortably thrust up on account of its shortness. You should sit 

 erect and square, with chest forward and shoulders well back, yet without 

 any appearance of stiffness or rigidity of position. Be as firm as a rock 

 below the waist, but light and flexible as a reed above it. On these two rules 

 all the beauty, and indeed the safety, of equestrianism depend. 



Again, you will discover that the toe of your right foot has a dreadful 



