126 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



secures a firmer and more easy seat. This 

 leather will be of the correct length when, by a 

 little pressure on it with her foot, and a simul- 

 taneous straightening of her knee, the rider can 

 spring upward about four or five inches from 

 the saddle ; but it must never be so long as to 

 render the third pommel nearly, if not quite, 

 useless. 



It is better to have the first lessons in riding 

 rather short, so that the pupil may become 

 gradually accustomed to the exercise. As soon 

 as she begins to feel at all fatigued, she should 

 at once dismount, and not try to ride again until 

 the tired feeling is wholly gone. These inter- 

 vals of fatigue will gradually become less and 

 less frequent, until at last the rider will find 

 herself so strong and vigorous that riding will 

 no longer require any fatiguing effort. In the 

 case of an active, healthy woman, accustomed 

 to exercise of various kinds, these short prelim- 

 inary lessons may not be necessary ; her muscles 

 will be already so well developed that she will 

 not be easily fatigued by exercise of any kind. 

 But for a lady who has always been physically 

 inactive, these short lessons at first are abso- 

 lutely necessary. The general system of such 

 a person has become enfeebled, her muscles are 

 weak and flabby, and any sudden or long con- 



