800 LADIES' RIDING. 



common faullj position, tlie weight of the body being 

 placed far to the left, and supported by the horn. Thia 

 position is taken from a fear of falling to the right, and is 

 most distressing to the horse, while it makes the lady look 

 as though hung on a peg at his side. In fig. 40, the last 

 described ungraceful position is attempted to be avoided by 

 a lady who takes her seat in the proper place on the sad- 

 die, and at that point, her courage failing her, bends hei 

 shoulders far to the left, by a combination of curves more 

 remarkable than beautiful. 



The fear which occasions these faults will in a great 

 measure disappear if the leaping-horn be adopted. 



The spine should be perpendicular over a line running 

 lengthwise through the centre of the saddle, and the right 

 leg, by which the weight should be mainly supported, 

 should lie as far from the right as the construction of the 

 saddle will allow. The right leg, from the knee dowui 

 should lie close to the saddle, rather than be pressed hard 

 against it. Care should be taken to keep the foot turned 

 to the right ; otherwise the lady can have no firm hold, and 

 it will break one of the most graceful lines of her flowing 

 skirt 



It is also important that the stirrup be not too short. It 

 should be of such a length as to raise the left thigh 

 lightly against the leaping-horn, while the heel is very 

 slightly depressed below the level of the ball of the foot. 

 The leg can then be either borne hard against the horn, or 

 lowered slightly away from it at pleasure. 



The Hands. — It is believed by many that a good seat 

 is all that is required to make a good rider, and it is un- 

 doubtedly of vast importance to the fair equestrienne. But 

 this excellence can be more easily obtained than the 

 proper use of the hands. However strange it may seem, a 

 •'heavy " liand is found quite as common among ladies aa 



