126 MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



angles to his side. She now places her right hand, with 

 the whip in it, on the upper crutch, and raises her left 

 foot about twelve inches from the ground, while keeping 

 the leg, from knee to ankle, in a more or less vertical 

 position (Fig. 67). The whip should be held as in this 

 illustration, so as to avoid alarming the horse. The 

 gentleman who is to put her on her horse, places him- 

 self close to, and in front of her, bends down, and 

 places the palm of one hand (generally the left one) 

 under the ball of her left foot, while he supports that 

 hand by putting the palm of the other hand under it. 

 The lady then places her left hand — with the elbow 

 turned out a little, so as to be able to utilise that arm 

 in raising herself — on his right shoulder (Fig. 68). 



Having finished the " prepare to mount " stage, she 

 straightens her left knee by lightly springing upwards 

 off the ground by means of her right foot, and at the 

 same time pressing on her cavalier's shoulder so as to 

 straighten her left arm. The moment he feels her 

 weight on his hands, he should raise himself into an 

 erect position, so as to bring her on a level with the 

 saddle, on which she places herself by turning to the 

 left while she is being raised, and bearing on the 

 upper crutch with her right hand. It will be difficult 

 for the gentleman to do this lift properly, unless the 

 lady keeps her left knee and left elbow^ straight during 

 the ascent. The gentleman's task will be greatly 

 facilitated if he takes advantage of the lady's spring ; 

 but even if he lets that helpful moment pass by, he can 

 do the lift in a satisfactory manner with the small 



