MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 105 



with her right hand, she should with the left 

 lift her riding skirt enough to enable her to 

 place her left foot fairly and squarely into the 

 gentleman's palms, which should be clasped 

 firmly together. This done, she should drop 

 the skirt, place her left hand upon his right 

 shoulder, bend her knee, or give the word 

 "ready," as a signal, and at once spring from 

 her right foot up and a little towards the horse. 

 The gentleman, at the same moment, must raise 

 his hands, and move them toward the horse. 

 The lady must, when rising, press or bear lightly 

 upon his shoulder, and also keep a firm hold 

 upon the second pommel, which she must not 

 relinquish until she is seated. If correctly per- 

 formed, this manoeuvre will place the rider in 

 the saddle sideways. The gentleman should 

 then remove the stirrup from the front of the 

 saddle, while the lady transfers the reins to her 

 left hand, passes her right knee over the second 

 pommel and her left under the third. She will 

 then be ready to have her foot placed in the 

 stirrup. (Fig. 17.) 



It will, however, be found very difficult to 

 mount in this manner, gracefully, unless the 

 gentleman who assists thoroughly understands 

 his duties ; should he be awkward about help- 

 ing her, the lady will find it much better to 



