136 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



so called, which will tear easily. The skirt, too, should be 

 as short as is at all consistent with appearance. It need 

 hardly be pointed out what danger there is in the prepos- 

 terously long skirt ; we have seen it become entangled with 

 the stirrup, passing a rail, hedge, or even the horse's legs, 

 and then the helplessness of the fair rider when unseated ; 

 for, should the horse himself fall, the rider is involved with 

 him in a peril from which she cannot be easily extricated 

 without injury. 



Mounting. — Preparatory to a lady mounting her horse, 

 let her steadily and without bustle approach his near 

 shoulder. The quietest animal will occasionally start or 

 even kick when suddenly approached from behind. It is 

 also to the advantage of the animal to see his rider as much 

 as possible; though some would seem to think otherwise, b}'' 

 their coup de onain mode of "getting hold" of the animal. 



In assisting a lady to mount, two persons are necessary. 

 The groom to keep the horse quiet, which he should do by 

 standing in front of him, with one rein in each hand, 

 holding the bridle-rein close to the bit. The other 

 attendant — a proud privilege for the favoured cavalier, 

 or a loving duty for the brother or friend — has to assist the 

 fair one to mount. This he does by placing himself near 

 to and almost in front of her. Having joined his hands 

 by interlacing his fingers with each other, he stoops, and 

 putting them near the ground receives the lady's left foot, 

 which she should place lightly but firmly in them, taking 

 care that no part of her skirt is under it. The left knee 

 should be kept firmly straight, to give a safe purchase 

 while she is being lifted perpendicularly and springily into 

 her seat. Before this lift, however, the lad}' having regu- 

 lated her habit, must stand perfectly erect, and taking the 

 bridoon-rein loosely over the thumb of her right hand 

 (holding the whip between the thumb and forefinger), she 

 lays gently hold of the upright horn of the saddle. Her 

 right side being now close to it, the lift is easy of accom- 

 plishment ; a spring from the instep, simultaneousl}^ placing 

 her left hand on the assistant's right shoulder, will land the 

 lady safe in her seat. 



Being now in the saddle, the lady should lay hold of her 

 habit with her right hand close to the knee, lifting it so as to 

 allow the right knee to rise and fall well home into the 

 crutch, and "holding it there firmly. This will be much 



