COEKESPONDENCE. 239 



that if there was any real advantage in the 

 Mexican style it would be readily adopted in 

 new countries. Many persons appear to be 

 quite unaware of what the lady's seat in the 

 side-saddle should be. I describe it thus : 

 let a man seat himseK properly in his saddle, 

 shorten the left stirrup two or three holes, 

 and then, without moving his body or his left 

 leg, put his right leg over the horse's wither ; 

 the man will then be seated on his horse 

 precisely as a lady should be seated in her 

 side-saddle. A lady's seat in a side-saddle, of 

 the size suited to her, is extremely firm ; any 

 one who has not tried a side-saddle with the 

 third crutch has no idea of the firm seat that 

 a lady has. I was quite astonished when I 

 tried it, and I believe that, after practising 

 for a day or two to get the balance, I could 

 ride any horse in a side-saddle that I could 

 ride at all ; whilst the exploits of ladies 

 show clearly that a change- of style is not 

 required for the purpose of obtaining a 

 more secure seat. One of the greatest diffi- 

 culties that ladies have to contend with in 

 this country in learning to ride is that they 



19 



