36 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



ing, first carefully adjust the habit, and 

 have the stirrup or girths tightened be- 

 fore putting the knee over the pommel, 

 while some even button their gloves be- 

 fore ; and, as a secondary consideration, 

 when everything else has been seen to, 

 they take up the reins, which have been 

 loose on the horse's neck. He might 

 easily wrench himself from the groom 

 at his head, and without her hold on 

 the pommel she would fall heavily to 

 the ground; or if she were seated, but 

 without reins, the horse might bolt into 

 a tree, a wall, or another horse. She 

 would probably grasp the first rein at 

 hand, perhaps the curb, and then the 

 horse might rear dangerously, and if 

 she did not relax her hold on his mouth 

 at once would be likely to fall backwards 

 with her 1 the worst thing that can hap- 

 pen to a woman on a horse. All this 

 may be avoided by taking the reins be- 



