64 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



to the strap by the tongue, will be perfectly secure: — I recom- 

 mend this stirrup-leather to gentlemen also. The stirrup- 

 leather, which passes under the horse's body, and is fixed to 

 the off side of the side-saddle, is supposed to prevent the saddle 

 from turning round. This is a mechanical error. But the 

 great objection to this sort of stirrup-leather is, that it can- 

 not with safety be used with the spring bar ; for, when off 

 the bar, it remains attached to the saddle, and acts as a 

 scourge to the horse. I once saw a frightful instance of this. 



I think the best way for a lady to mount is, to place the 

 left hand on the pummel, the right hand on the off side of 

 the cantle, or as far towards it as possible, and to give the 

 left foot to the person who assists her. In this way she may 

 use the strength of both arms to raise and balance herself. 

 This should be practised on any piece of furniture as high 

 as, or higher than a horse ; for accidents easily may, and in 

 fact constantly do, occur in mounting. 



I have no feeling to prevent me descending to what may 



