LEARNING TO RIDE. 95 



of it firmly upon the top of the up-pommel — grasping it, 

 in fact ; then, witli your left hand, gather your skirt away 

 from your left foot, and place this latter in the hand of your 

 assistant, bending your knee as you do so. When you feel 

 that his palm is firmly supporting the sole of your foot, talre 

 your left hand from your habit-skirt and place it on his left 

 shoulder — he being in a slightly stooping position at the time. 

 Then give him the signal : any pre-arranged word will do 

 — " Ready ! " " Go ahead ! " " Now ! " or, in short, anything 

 you may choose to fix. As you say the word, straighten 

 your knee, and make a slight spring upward, your cavalier 

 at the same instant raising himself to an erect position, 

 without letting his hand drop in the very smallest degree. 

 By this arrangement you will reach your saddle with 

 comfort and expertness. It will, as already mentioned, 

 require some patient practice, for, like many other accom- 

 plishments, it looks wonderfully simple and easy — until 

 you come to try it. In the event of having to mount by a 

 wall, a big stone, a horse-bucket, or other article — any one 

 of which you may be glad at some time or another to make 

 use of on emergency — steady yourself well upon your 

 stepping-stone, whatever it may be, gather the reins in 

 your left hand, laying it firmly upon the up-pommel or on 

 the horse's mane, place your foot in the stirrup, taking care 

 that it is well freed from the habit-skirt, then seize the 

 cantle firmly with your right hand, and jump into the 

 saddle. If your skirt is properly cut, you will have no 

 difficulty in arranging it comfortably over your right knee 

 when the latter has been placed in position, and you 



