132 MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



so as to prevent the animal from getting away while 

 putting her up. 



I think all hunting men should know how to put a 

 lady up, because accidents in the field are constantly 

 occurring, and some poor Diana who has had a tumble 

 is always grateful to any good Samaritan who renders 

 her this small service. A well-meaning sportsman who 

 kindly offered me his help on such an occasion, knew 

 so little about the mysteries of side-saddle riding, that 

 he attempted to give me a " leg up," as if I were a man ! 



It w^ould be well for every school where riding is 

 taught to be supplied with a wooden horse, on which 

 pupils could learn the method of getting into the 

 saddle, and would thus avoid becoming flurried or 

 nervous when mounting, especially if the horse is a 

 stranger. Also, a dummy horse would be an admir- 

 able subject on which to do preliminary practice in 

 other details of riding, such as grip, length of stirrup, 

 leaning back (as when going over fences), position of 

 the hands, holding and handling the reins, etc. In this 

 way, beginners would learn what they had to do, before 

 getting on a horse. 



Mounting from the ground unaided depends for its 

 success chiefly on the respective heights of horse and 

 rider, although a lady can be helped considerably in 

 this attempt by letting out the stirrup leather, which 

 she will have to shorten after climbing into the saddle. 

 Unless a lady is tall and athletic, it will be almost 

 impossible for her to perform this feat on a full-sized 

 horse. This method of mounting should, as a rule, be 



