Introduction. 



19 



covered: but, only, when the sun is powerful. 

 They, sometimes, ride in ponchos, like the men : 

 in fact, it is exceedingly difficult, at first sight, to 

 determine whether a person on horseback be male 

 or female." 



The side-saddle introduced to this country by 

 Ann of Bohemia, differed, materially, from that 

 now used by British ladies ; having, no doubt, 

 been a mere pillion, on which the rider sate, as in 

 a chair. 



At what period our fair countrywomen first 

 began to ride with the knee over the pommel, we 

 are not enabled to state : it is, however, clear, ac- 

 cording to the original of the following sketch, which 

 occurs in one of the historical illustrations of eques- 

 trianism, given by Audry, that the courtly dames 

 of England did so, about the middle of the seven- 



