Riding for Women and Children 143 



open, and one should learn all the details of mount- 

 ing, dismounting, and arranging the horse's trap- 

 pings and her own — or stay at home. Every 

 woman can and should mount her horse as easily 

 as can her male escort, and it is her duty to know 

 how. 



To mount your own horse, let out (from the off 

 side) your stirrup about six holes; put your left 

 foot in the stirrup ; seize the pommel in the left, the 

 cantle in the right, hand ; pull yourself up and stand 

 in the stirrup, and, as you reach your altitude, shift 

 right hand to off pommel, twist body to face horse's 

 ears, and sit down; put the right knee over the 

 pommel; take up the stirrup girth to the proper 

 hole; arrange your skirt, and slip the elastics over 

 the right foot and left heel — and there you are! 

 To dismount, clear the elastics; take the knee off 

 the pommel; face to the left; take the skirt in the 

 left hand and the near pommel in the right, and 

 slide off. Nothing is simpler, when you've done it 

 once or twice, and you are thus independent of any 

 escort. 



