100 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



when it became necessary to trust themselves 

 on the back of an animal of which they knew 

 nothing. To overcome this timidity the lady 

 must become better acquainted with her horse, 

 and, to do so, should visit him occasionally in 

 his stable, feed him with choice morsels, and 

 lead him about the yard from time to time. By 

 these means a mutual friendship and confidence 

 will be created, and the lady will gradually gain 

 enough courage to place herself in the saddle. 



The first attempt at mounting should be made 

 from a high horse-block with some one to hold 

 the head of the horse and keep him still. Turn- 

 ing her right side somewhat toward the horse's 

 left, and slightly raising the skirt of her riding 

 habit, the lady should spring from her left foot 

 towards the saddle, at the same time raising her 

 right leg so that it will pass directly over the 

 second and third pommels. This accomplished, 

 the left foot may be placed in the stirrup. 



Another method of mounting from a rather 

 high horse-block, when the pommels are high, is 

 for the lady to face the horse's left side, and, 

 seizing the off-pommel with the right hand and 

 the second one with the left, to spring towards 

 the saddle from her left foot, and seat herself 

 sidewise. She can then turn her body so as to 

 face the horse's head, place her right leg over 



