184 THE HORSE. 



der against the saddle, and taking the bridoon rein 

 loosely in her right hand, upon the fore finger or 

 thumb, she lays hold on the upright horn of the sad- 

 dle, standing in the mean time erect, and ready to 

 place her left hand on her assistant's right shoulder. 

 The person who attends to seat the lady, approaching 

 close to her, must join his hands, by weaving his 

 fingers within each other, to form a stirrup for the 

 lady's left foot, as near the ground as possible ; her 

 left knee must be quite straight, which will facilitate 

 the assistant's effort to place her in the saddle, which 

 is also forwarded by a moderate spring from herself; 

 she will perceive the necessity of the knee being held 

 perfectly straight, and of her standing with her 

 shoulder close to the saddle. Here one reason is 

 apparent why a lady's pad ought not to be too lofty. 

 Being seated in the saddle, and her garments 

 smoothed a second time, if need be ; our horse- 

 woman's first act ought to be the drawing up her 

 clothes with the right hand, to the height, that her 

 right knee may be clear to enter the crutch, where it 

 is to be fixed. If she did not mount with the whip 

 in hand, joined with the reins, the person at the 

 horse's head, will have held it ready for her. The 

 whip in her right hand is held obliquely near the 

 head, with the thumb upon it, and the four fingers 

 under it, the arm hanging down straight, but with 

 ease. Hughes, who taught his lady scholars to ride 

 on either side the horse, counselled to have the pom- 

 mel of their saddle made very low, that the knee 

 may not be thrown too high ; and also that the pom- 

 mel be made with a turn-again screw, to be taken off 



