HORSEMANSHIP. 75 



The lady puts her forefinger between the 

 reins, gently letting them slip, not to disturb 

 the horse, till her hand rests and lays hold on 

 the near crutch or pommel of the saddle. 



She stands then close to the horse, upright, 

 with the face half turned from the saddle. 

 The assistant places himself before her, and, 

 where practice has been wanting to make 

 either expert at this business, it will be best 

 for the assistant to place both his hands to- 

 gether by the intersection of his fingers. He 

 then stoops to receive the lady's left foot, 

 which must be placed full and firm on his 

 hands. 



The lady then places her left hand on his 

 right shoulder, by which, and the hold she 

 has on the pommel of the saddle, she steadies 

 herself, while she bears all her weight on the 

 assistant's hands, straightening the left knee 

 and keeping it firm. 



Should the lady be heavy or inactive, the 

 more particular care is requisite in both : — 

 on the lady's part, that she bear her weight 

 centrically and perpendicularly in the hands, 

 not putting her foot forward as she raises it, 

 by which she would shove the person from 

 her ; on the assistant's, that he place himself 



