DISMOUNTING. 



25 



If a lady wears a spur she should always tell her 

 assistant, who will then be careful that her left heel 

 does not touch the animal's side. I have often been 

 asked if it is possible for a lady to mount alone ; 

 and it is certainly possible, although not very con- 

 venient. She may either avail herself of a fallen 

 tree, a stump, a fence, or any slight elevation, which 

 is, of course, as if she were to mount from a plat- 

 form in the school ; or she may let down her stirrup 

 as far as she can by means of the strap on the right 

 side of the saddle, take firm hold of the second 

 pommel with her left hand and the back of the sad- 

 dle with her right, put her left foot into the stirrup, 

 and give a quick spring with her right leg, which, if 

 she is active, will land her in the saddle, after which 

 she can shorten her stirrup-leather. A lady will 

 probably never in her life be called upon to mount 

 alone in a flat country, but she can never have too 

 many resources, and it is easy to make the attempt 

 some time when riding alone in the school. 



DISMOUNTING. 



The horse having come to a full stop, the pupil 

 may let the reins fall on his neck if he is very docile, 

 slip her left foot out of the stirrup and both feet 

 out of their elastic straps, pass her right leg over the 

 second pommel, and sit sideways on her saddle for 

 an instant ; then give her left hand to her assistant, 

 who stands at the side of the horse, and let herself 

 slip to the ground. If she should be very stout, or 



