CHAPTER I. 



Mounting — Dismounting — The position on horseback — Man- 

 ner of holding the reins. 



MOUNTING. 



The custom which prevails in many riding-schools 

 of allowing pupils to mount from steps or platforms 

 seems to me not only unscientific, but irrational, un- 

 less, indeed, the pupil is too small, too old, or too 

 stout to be mounted in any other way ; unscientific, 

 because there is a correct and prescribed method of 

 mounting from the ground, and irrational, because, if 

 a lady dismounts away from the riding-school, and 

 has not been taught this method, she will be obliged 

 to go to the nearest house in search of a chair or 

 bench, or at least must find a fallen tree-trunk or a 

 big stone before she can mount again. 



The pupil should advance to the left side of her 

 horse, which is supposed to be standing quietly with 

 a groom at his head, to whom she will hand her whip, 

 taking care not to flourish it in such a manner as to 

 startle the animal. She should then turn and face 

 in the same direction as the horse, let her skirt fall, 

 and put her right hand on the second pommel of 



