ETIQUETTE IX THE SADDLE. 101 



in the conformation of the female form or of the horse 

 itself, or in the exigencies of equestrianism, that makes 

 it inherently more proper to sit on one side of the horse 

 rather than on the other, it seems strange that none of 

 our independent American ladies should have under- 

 taken to set the fashion of sitting on the right side. 

 The Princess of Wales always does so, for some special 

 reason. The Empress of Austria, who is well known as 

 one of the boldest and most graceful riders as well as 

 one of the most beautiful women in Europe, is said to 

 have saddles made in both ways, using them alternately, 

 and this plan is adopted by more than one of the noble 

 ladies of England who hunt regularly in the season, 

 with a view of preventing too constant a strain on the 

 same set of nerves, and possibly causing an unequal de- 

 velopment of the two sides of the person. However, 

 accepting the present feminine seat as a thing not to be 

 changed, the advantages in this country of riding on the 

 one hand of the escort or on the other are so equally 

 divided that the balance may incline to either side, and 

 a lady is always free to do about it as she pleases with- 

 out exciting remark. When riding on the right side, 

 the lady is protected from passing vehicles, and the gen- 

 tleman has his right hand free to assist her in any way, 

 even to taking her off her horse in case of necessity ; 

 but if either horse were to shy towards the other, she 

 might get bruised, and she is always liable to an occa- 

 sional contact with her companion's person, which may 



