Women in the Field. 89 



ing personally that your girths, saddle-cloths, and 

 bits are all right. Nothing so thoroughly dis- 

 gusts or angers a man as to be called upon in 

 the field especially during a run, to "please 

 tighten my girths." Were a man engaged to a 

 woman he would be justified in breaking the en- 

 gagement under this great provocation. 



In mounting, hold your reins in right hand, 

 grasping fixed pommel with same, turn your face 

 and body slightly towards your horse, place your 

 left hand on leaping horn, your felt foot in hand 

 of assistant about twelve inches from the ground, 

 say ''ready" — straightening the left leg at the 

 same time — your assistant gives you a lift into the 

 saddle sideways. Place the right knee over the 

 fixed pommel, the left foot in the stirrup, lean 

 back that he may pull your skirt forward and ad- 

 just the straps; then lean forward with weight 

 on stirrup that the habit may be pulled from be- 

 neath you and straightened; test length of stir- 

 rup ; then transfer the reins to left hand and you 

 are ready to ride. 



To dismount, take reins in right hand, re- 

 lease the habit straps with left, remove right knee 

 from the fixed pommel; when skirts and straps 

 are free place hands on pommels, turn sideways 

 and spring clear of saddle and alight on balls of 

 both feet. 



As with the man, the balance seat is the only 



