20 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



the saddle. This, in the case of a Zenith, is a matter 

 speedily arranged, and, the adjustment being to her satisfac- 

 tion, she at once pivots on the centre, and raises her right 

 leg into its place over the crutch. The foot is then placed in 

 the stirrup. When a good seat has been acquired, and the 

 rider does not encumber herself with needless underclothing, 

 this arrangement of habit had best be deferred till the horse 

 is in motion ; she can then raise herself in the saddle by 

 straightening the left knee, and, drawing herself forward by 

 grasping the pommel with the right hand, arrange the 

 folds to her entire satisfaction with the left. 



Attention must be paid to the length of the stirrup, for on 

 it depends greatly the steadiness of the seat. Many ladies 

 are seen riding with a short stirrup ; but this is an error, for it 

 destroys the balance, without which there can be no elegance, 

 invariably causes actual cramp and gives a cramped appear- 

 ance, forces the rider out of the centre of the saddle, so 

 that the weight on the horse's back is unevenly distributed, 

 and displays too much daylight when rising in the trot. On 

 the other hand, too long a stirrup is equally objectionable, as 

 it causes the body to lean unduly over to the near side in 

 order to retain hold of it, depresses and throws back the 

 left shoulder, and destroys the squareness of position. The 

 length of stirrup should be just sufficient that the rider, by 

 leaning her right hand on the pommel, can, without any 

 strain on the instep, raise herself clear of the saddle ; this 

 implies that the knee will be only bent sufficiently to main- 

 tain the upward pressure of the knee against the concave 

 leaping-head. The stirrup is intended as a support to the 

 foot, not as an appiii to ride from ; it is not intended to 

 sustain the full weight of the body, and when so misapplied 

 is certain to establish a sore back. I am strongly of opinion 

 that to be in all respects perfect in the equestrian art, a 



