MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 101 



the second pommel, adjusting her skirt at the 

 same time, and slip her left foot into the stir- 

 rup and her left knee under the third pommel. 



Should the horse-block be low and the lady 

 short, she will be obliged to mount somewhat 

 after a man's fashion, thus : Placing her left 

 foot in the stirrup, and grasping the second 

 pommel with her left hand, she should spring 

 from her right foot, and, as she rises, grasp the 

 off-pommel with her right hand ; by means of 

 this spring, aided by the pommels and stirrup, 

 she can seat herself sideways in the saddle, turn- 

 ing her body for this purpose just before gain- 

 ing the seat. In the absence of a horse-block, 

 from which to mount, the assistance of a chair 

 or stool should never be resorted to unless there 

 is some one to hold it firm and steady. 



When the rider is obliged to mount without 

 assistance and from the ground, if the balance- 

 strap, before referred to, be used with her stir- 

 rup, she can let this strap down far enough to 

 enable her to put her foot in the stirrup easily, 

 and to use it as a sort of stepping-stone by 

 means of which, and a spring from her right 

 foot, she can reach the saddle sideways. In do- 

 ing this she must grasp the second pommel 

 firmly with her left hand, in which she also 

 should hold her whip and the reins ; on rising 



