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The lady’s horse should be good tempered, free and willing, for a sluggish horse is the most unpleasant of any to a lady; but he must not be restless, nor impatient in company: he should be steady, and safe on the roads, smooth in all his paces; and with these natural qualifications which are essential, he must be properly broken, and taught to go collectedly in all his paces; and particularly to lead off in a canter with the right leg; to arch his neck on the reins being felt, to be obedient, and light in hand; it is further desirable that the horse should possess elegance of figure, power, and action, with speed in all his paces. However, much will depend upon the person, for whom he is intended, as a timid rider would be alarmed by the sprightliness of a free going horse, which might perfectly suit a lady with a light hand, and a steady seat. A young horse is naturally unsteady, the beau ideal of a lady’s horse, is an officer’s charger, about ten years old, as he still possesses life and spirit, without the freshness of a colt.

DIRECTIONS FOR MOUNTING.

The lady holding the falling folds of her habit in both hands, walks up to the horse’s head, or side; but never behind him, lest he should kick at her.

There should be two persons in attendance, the groom should stand before the horse’s head, with a hand on each side of the bridle, close to his mouth, to keep him steady; the gentleman takes the reins in his left hand, separating them with his forefingers, the lady receives them in her right hand, in like manner, and lets them glide gently and evenly through her fingers, until her hand reaches the near crutch, which she takes hold of; and having passed the whip over the saddle, she holds it also in her right hand. Standing close to the near side of the saddle, and facing the gentleman who has taken a lock of the mane in his left hand, the lady places her left foot, which he stoops to receive, full in his right hand, lets the habit fall from her left hand, which she places upon his right shoulder, leaning thereon, and assisted by her hold on the crutch, she springs up from her right instep, as uprightly as possible, having been careful not to place her left foot too far forward, but keeping it directly under her, she straightens her left knee and assumes an upright position; the gentleman, when he feels her spring, accelerates the movement, by simultaneously lifting his hand high enough, to place the lady on the saddle, she steadying herself, by the hold she has with her right hand, seats herself, and places her right leg between the two outward pommels, the gentleman places her foot in the stirrup, and she takes the reins in her left hand. To adjust the habit, the lady raises herself by placing her right hand on the off pommel and standing in her stirrup, the gentleman shakes the back part of the skirt into its place, she re-seats herself, and raising her right knee to free the habit, the gentleman assists to adjust the front part of the skirt by gently drawing it forward.

THE SEAT AND BALANCE.

A lady seldom appears to greater advantage than when mounted on a fine horse, that is, if her deportment be graceful; and her position corresponds with his paces and attitudes; but the reverse is the case, if, instead of acting with, and influencing the movements of, the horse, she appears to be tossed to and fro, and overcome by them. She should rise, and descend, advance, and stop with, and not after the animal. From this harmony of motion results ease, elegance, and a good effect. The lady should sit in such a position, that the weight of her body may rest on the centre of the saddle, and so far back, as just to admit of her right leg passing easily round the crutch, for if the knee be too far forward, the seat will be very insecure; the right foot should be flat to the saddle, the toe turned downwards, that it may not be seen through the habit, when a firmer seat is required, the heel should be depressed, as doing so, will tend to brace the muscles of the leg, and give a firmer hold on the crutch.

The left leg and knee must be in close contact with the saddle, from the knee the leg should fall in a natural position, the foot should be parallel to the horse’s side, and close to it, the heel slightly depressed. The stirrup leather should be adjusted accordingly, as it is only of use, to support the foot in its proper position, too long a stirrup throws the rider on one side, and raises the right hip, too short a stirrup again, forces the knee outwards, and throws the seat too much to the right, giving to the rider a distorted appearance. A small strap fastened to the surcingle about two inches above the stirrup, passing round the stirrup leather, with a play of about three inches, adds greatly to the security of the seat, as it prevents the leg from flying out from the saddle.

The arms should hang straight down from the shoulder, nearly close to the sides, but not stiffly, the elbows bent, and the hands level with the elbows, the right arm and hand, when not occupied with the reins, may be allowed to hang straight from the shoulder. The whip should be held with the lash downwards, between the two fingers and thumb. The whip may also be carried in the manner adopted by gentlemen; but care should be taken that its point does not tickle, or irritate the horse.

The proper position of the bridle hand, is immediately opposite to the centre of the waist, and about three or four inches from it, the wrist should be slightly rounded, the back of the hand to the front, the knuckles opposite to the horse’s ears, the thumb uppermost, and pressed over the third joint of the finger. The hand should not be allowed to move across the body, all the movements being made by the wrist. The arm from the shoulder to the waist, must be one continued spring, impulsive to the motion of the horse’s head, moving backwards and forwards as he moves, for if it be not so, the horse’s mouth will be spoiled by the dead pull upon it.

The body must always be in a situation, as well to preserve the balance, as to maintain the seat. The shoulders should be thrown back, so as to open the chest as much as possible. The rider should look in the direction, and lean to the side the horse is turning to, which is in fact the necessary balance.

HOLDING THE REINS.

There are various ways of holding the reins, depending upon fancy, and circumstances; such as the fineness of a horse’s mouth, and the delicacy of the rider’s hand.

Holding a single rein.—The rein is taken in the centre where the joining is, between the fore-finger and thumb of the right hand, and drawn towards the body, the left hand is placed over the reins, and the little finger is inserted between them; the hand is then closed, and the reins are drawn through the fingers, by the right hand, until a proper feeling is obtained upon the horse’s mouth; the loop end of the rein is allowed to drop over the fore-finger, and the thumb is placed upon the rein, to prevent its slipping.

Holding a double rein.—The curb rein being held as directed, the loop of the snaffle rein is placed over the curb rein in the palm of the left hand, or, to have a double bearing upon the horse’s mouth, the rein may be drawn, till the required tension is obtained, the left rein lying over the curb rein in the palm of the hand, the right snaffle rein, passing between the second and third fingers. In dividing the