MOUNTING. 



37 



bridle in this manner, her fore-finger is placed between 

 the reins : the groom then removes his hand, and the 

 lady draws her own back, suffering the reins to glide 

 gently and evenly through her fingers, until she reaches 

 the near crutch of the saddle, which she takes with her 



right hand, still holding the whip and reins, and places 

 herself close to the near side of the horse, wdth her 

 back almost turned towards him. The groom now quits 

 his former post, and prepares to assist her to mount. 

 The horse being thus left to the lady's government, 

 it is proper, that, in passing her hand through the reins 

 she should not have suffered them to become so loose 

 as to prevent her, when her hand is on the crutch, 

 from having a light, but steady bearing on the bit, and 

 thus keeping the horse to his position dining the pro- 

 cess of mounting. She next places her left foot funnly in 

 the right hand of the groom, or gentleman, in attendance, 



c3 



