ADVICE TO LADIES.
Preparatory to a lady mounting her horse, she should carefully approach to the shoulder. The quietest animal will sometimes kick on a person coming suddenly to him from behind; but if neared in the manner described, he cannot possibly contrive to bite or kick.
It is also correct to allow the horse to see his rider as much as possible, as it obviates the fright occasioned by a person getting suddenly on his back, that he has not previously seen coming to him.
THE HABIT.
Both the habit and under garments should be full, as upon this so much depends the requisite ease and graceful appearance. The habit should not, however, be too long, as it is liable to become entangled in the horse’s legs. Sometimes serious and even fatal falls have occurred from this cause, particularly if the horse falls to the ground, as the habit cannot be speedily extricated from under him.
The author here strongly advises a lady never to tuck her skirts tight over the crutch of her saddle, but take pains to have them so easy, as to be enabled on the instant to disengage both skirts and knee. A facility, in this, can only be acquired by constant practice; and it is of far greater importance to the lady equestrian to attain, than may appear at the first glance. Had this apparently slight attainment been made a matter of moderate consideration, many a parent need not have had to deplore the death or disfigurement of a beloved child.
When a lady has her habit drawn over the crutch of her saddle, and tucked tightly in under her leg (for the purpose of keeping the skirt in its proper position), she denies herself the full liberty of her knee, and in case of accident, to be off the horse.
On the slightest warning, though foreseen, whatever the danger, the tightness of the lady’s dress will not allow her to get her leg out of its place, in time to make any effectual effort to save herself; also, it is probable that the habit might get entangled in the pummel, and she, frightened of course, would become unable to disengage her foot from the stirrup (or shoe), in which case she inevitably experiences the most appalling of all accidents,—being dragged powerless, by a terrified horse, a considerable distance along the road.
Before closing this portion of his subject, the author is rejoiced that the extremely dangerous and most unnecessary fashion of wearing “Habit Brooches” is now no longer adopted,—things solely invented for “trade purposes,”—and to any, and especially to a graceful horsewoman, a truly ridiculous article to wear: never to be patronized by a lady, anxious for her own safety and the feelings of her family and friends.
To illustrate this:—The position of a lady on horseback is greatly limited, when compared to that of a gentleman; necessarily then, when her skirt is confined by a “Habit Brooch,” all power must be taken away, and all chance of escape, when an accident occurs. A very slight fall to the lady may be fatal, where, had she had the full liberty of her skirt, it would have been very trivial. The proper arrangement of the skirt of the riding-dress, to prevent its flying about, entirely depends on the lady herself.
MOUNTING.
Two persons are absolutely necessary to assist a lady to mount; one to keep the horse quiet, by standing in front of him, and holding the reins close to the bit, one rein in each hand; the other is for assisting her to mount. The lady, having regulated her habit, must stand perfectly erect; her right hand; having the bridoon-rein hanging loosely on the thumb, being placed upon the upright horn of the saddle (her whip held between the thumb and forefinger), her right side towards and close to it.
The second person, who is to assist the lady to mount, must now place himself near to, and almost fronting her; having united his hands by putting his fingers between each other, and stooping down near to the ground, receives the lady’s left foot, which should be placed firmly in them, care being previously taken that no part of her skirt is under it. The left knee should be kept as straight as possible, in order to give additional purchase, while lifting her perpendicularly and gracefully into the saddle. The lady must then place her left hand on his right shoulder, and as he lifts her, she must spring from the instep, at the same time guiding herself into the saddle with her right hand.
Having gained her saddle, the lady should take hold of her habit with her right hand, close to the knee, and raise it sufficiently to allow of the right knee dropping well home into the crutch, and keeping it there, as far as she possibly can, immovable.