INTRODUCTION. 11 



tion of comparatively recent date. The first seen in 

 England was made for Anne of Bohemia, wife of 

 Richard the Second, and was probably more like a 

 pillion than the side-saddle of the present day. A 

 pillion is a sort of very low-backed arm-chair, and 

 was fastened on the horse's croup, behind the saddle, 

 on which a man rode who had all the care of man- 

 aging the horse, while the lady sat at her ease, sup- 

 porting herself by grasping a belt which he wore, or 

 passing her arm around his body, if the gentleman 

 was not too ticklish. But the Mexicans manage 

 these things with more gallantry than the ancients 

 did. The paisana, or country lady, we are told, 

 is often seen mounted before her caballero, who 

 takes the more natural position of being seated 

 behind his fair one, supporting her by throwing his 

 arm around her waist (a very appropriate support, if 

 the bent position of the arm does not cause an occa- 

 sional contraction of the muscles) . These two posi- 

 tions may justly be considered as the first steps taken 

 by the ladies towards their improved and elegant 

 mode of riding at the present day. At an early 

 period, when the diversion of hawking was prevalent, 

 they dressed themselves in the costume of the knight 

 and rode astride. 



Horses were in general use for many centuries 

 before anything like a protection for the hoof was 

 thought of, and it was introduced at first, as a mat- 

 ter of course, on a very simple scale. The first foot 



