28 THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 



right leg close to the forepoint of the saddle, with the leg well 

 drawn back, and the toe raised from the instep. The assistant 

 should then place the lady's foot well home in the stirrup. Before 

 raising the right knee over the pommel, the lady should lift the 

 snaffle reins with her right hand high enough to admit of her 

 moving the leg without interfering with them. The right knee 

 being firmly placed between the pommels, and the left foot in the 

 stirrup, the pupil should then place her right hand with the snaffle 

 reins between the finger and thumb and the whip in the full of the 

 hand, firmly on the off-side pommel of the saddle. She should then 

 draw her left foot well back, and getting a firm bearing on the 

 stirrup, raise herself well up from the saddle, leaning forward 

 sufticiently to preserve her balance. She should then pass her 

 left hand back, and pull her skirt well out, so that there remains 

 no ruck or wrinkle in it, and then quietly lower herself down to 

 the saddle again. This act of clearing the slack of the skirt is one 

 which it is so frequently necessary for the lady to execute when 

 riding that she should practise it frequently in her early lessons. 

 It is true that when the assistant first places her on the horse he can 

 arrange her habit as she rises from the saddle ; but, for some time, 

 until she has acquired firmness and perfect balance, her habit will 

 inevitably ride up, particularly in trotting, and it is necessary that 

 she should learn to be independent in this respect of the gentle- 

 man who attends her. Moreover, as to arrange the habit grace- 

 fully requires considerable practice, it should form a distinct part 

 of the lesson at first when the horse is standing perfectly still, 

 afterwards at a Avalk, and finally at a trot. In cantering it cannot 

 be done. 



Having arranged the hind part of her skirt, the lady should then 

 take the front in her left hand, and pull it well forward, raising her 

 right knee at the same time, to insure that she has perfect freedom 

 of action for it. The left knee should then be placed firmly against 

 the leaping crutch (or, as it is generally called, the third crutch) 

 of the saddle ; although with saddles devoid of an off-side pommel, 

 it is, in fact, tne second crutch. This important adjunct to a lady's 

 firmness and security in riding should always be most carefully 



