groom, may place
himself immediately in front of the lady, who is then to incline
sufficiently forward for him to receive her weight, by placing his hands
under her arms, and thus easing her descent.

[Illustration]

If the lady dismount without assistance, after the hand is carried from
the off to the near crutch, she must turn round so as to be able to
take, in her left hand, a lock of the horse's mane; by the aid of which,
and by bearing her right hand on the crutch, she may alight without
difficulty. In dismounting thus, without assistance, she must turn as
she quits the saddle, so as to descend with her face towards the horse's
side.

[Illustration]

By whatever mode the lady dismounts, but especially if she do so without
assistance, she should--to prevent any unpleasant shock on reaching the
ground--bend her knees, suffer her body to be perfectly pliant, and
alight on her toes, or the middle of her feet. She is neither to
relinquish her hold, nor is the gentleman, or groom, if she make use of
his ministry, to withdraw his hand, until she is perfectly safe on the
ground.

In order to dismount with grace and facility, more practice is required
than that of merely descending from the saddle after an exercise or a
ride. It is advisable to mount and dismount, for some days, several
times, successively, either before or after the ride;--commencing with
the most simple modes, until a sufficient degree of confidence and
experience is acquired to perform either of these operations in a proper
manner, with the mere aid of the assistant's hand.

[Illustration]

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The lady should perform her first lessons with a snaffle bridle, holding
the reins in both hands, and without a stirrup. When she has acquired
some degree of practice in the balance, aids, and general government of
the horse, she may use a bridle with double reins, and hold them in the
left hand, managing them as we have directed in some of the preceding
pages.

If the lady be but in her noviciate in the art, we strongly advise her
not to place too much reliance on her own expertness, or to attempt too
much at first; but, rather, to proceed steadily, and be satisfied with a
gradual improvement; as it is utterly impossible to acquire perfection
in the nicer operations of riding, before the minor difficulties are
overcome.

The lady, in all cases, should recollect that her horse requires
occasional haltings and relaxation. Th