286 HOW TO RIDE A HORSE. 



over-confident of her own skill or the good disposition of 

 the horse, keep a (vigilant eye upon her, but do not un- 

 wisely show your own anxiety, or utter cautions which will 

 only tempt her to a greater display of her own fearlessness, 

 with a laugh at your advice. At the proper moment you 

 may suggest the danger you see, giving he» the reasons for 

 your apprehensions. 



The instructions for assisting the lady in mounting -will 

 bg found in the chapter on Ladies' Riding, and comprise 

 all that is necessary on that topic. 



If you are to ride with a lady under circumstances which 

 render it probable you will have to assist her, or on thor- 

 oughfares where many vehicles will be met, ride on the 

 left side of her ; but if otherwise, it is well to consult her 

 preferences as to which side you shall take. There is 

 no rule to be prescribed on this point, thougli the advan- 

 tages of riding on the left side may be stated as follows : 



You have the right hand nearest to her, to render her 

 any assistance, if required. On the other side your bridle- 

 hand, which is comparatively inefficient for this purpose, is 

 the only one you can conveniently use. 



Any disarrangement or entanglement of the skirt can be 

 corrected by the gentleman, and is lees liable to be ob- 

 served by passers-by. 



The left side being the one on which all carriages pass, 

 you ride between them and your lady's horse. 



Conversation is much more easily carried on, as the lady 

 can, with less exertion, turn her face toward the gentleman. 



If the saddle turn, or any accident render it necessary 

 i,o lift the lady from the saddle, the left side is always pref 

 erable. 



The objections to riding on this side are, that an awk- 

 ward rider, or horse, may hurt or incommode the lady's 

 feet, and that it is sometimes desirable to the lady to ad- 



