Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-12
WOMEN IN SADDLE.
THE ETIQUETTE OF HORSEBACK
RIDING EXPLAINED.
Dress Regulations = The Proper
Method for neutrality-suspicious.
and Poise in the Saddle.

Ihere are numerous ladies in Sacra-
mento who engage in the very healthful
pastime of horseback riding, and they will
be interested in some suggestions contained
in new volume upon Horsemanship for
Women" written by Theodore II. Mead
and published by Harper Brothers. The
etiquette of equestrianism will especially
interest those familiar with the horse and
these, the writer says, are based pretty
much on common sense, and no courage
Gus, kind-hearted and sensible female need
be much afraid of committing fatal sole
cism. The few prescribed and arbitrary
forms are easy to remember and are these:
First as to dress. Good form" demands
that it shall be simple and entirely with
out ornament. The habit itself must be
quite dark, or even black, perfectly plain
IN the waist, with black buttons up to the
neck, and with scant, short skirt only
just long enough to cover the feet. The
cuffs and collars must be of plain linen, no
color or futter of ribbon being anywhere
permissible. The handkerchief must not
be thrust in the breast, but kept in the
saddle pocket, and if veil is worn it must
be short and black. The hair should be
put up securely so that it will not shake
down. If there is a pretense of dressing,
the regulation silk 'cylinder" hat should
be worn, which, by-the-by, looks better
rather low in the crown. No petticoats
should be worn, but merino drawers and
easy trousers of the same material fastened
over the instep with straps Corsets should
be worn loose. Easy gloves and shoes are
suggested, and as to the relative merits of
crop and whip, the individual is left to her
choice.
"a lady's mount" says Mr.. Mead, "must
be immaculate from ear to hoof, in coat
and name and entire equipment 1t is in
a great degree their exquisite neatness
that gives such an air of style not only to
English horsewomen, but to English turn
outs Of all kinds, which, nevertheless.
have not usually the 'spick and span new
look of fashionable American equipages.
On coming out, therefore, prepared for
ride, take time to look your horse over
swiftly, but keenly, noting first that his
eye and general appearance indicate good
health and spirits; secondly, that he has
been thoroughly groomed, his name freed
from dandrutf, his hoofs washed, but not
BACKED; thirdly, that the saddle and
bride are perfectly clean and properly put
| on. Every buckle should have been I'M
done and cleansed, the leather supplied.
and the bright metal polished the girths.
three In number-never fewer than two
should be snug, but not tight enough to
impede free breathing; the bits in their
proper place, that is to say, the snaffle Just
high enough up not to wrinkle the cor
| ners of the mouth, and the curb consider
| ably lower, with its chain, which should
pass below the snafiie, lying fiat and
smooth against the skin in the chin
groove; finally, the throat latch loose"
In mounting, ease and grace count for
much. Mr.. Mead's directions for a sue
cessful and satisfactory accomplishment of
this feat are here given: When the horse
is brought to the door, he SAYS. let the
groom stand directly in front of him, hold
ing the bride, not by the rein, but with
both hands by each check, just above the
bit. Stand Il moment and look your ami
NAL over, give your orders quietly and
pat his neck for moment, speaking pleas
antly so that he may get accustomed to
your voice. Now, standing few inches
from the saddle, facing the same way as
the horse, and with your left shoulder
slightly thrown back, place the right hand
on the second pommel, holding in it the
whip, and the reins drawn Just tight
enough to give feeling of the bit. Your
attendant will stand facing you. and as
close as convenient, and will now stoop
forward, with hands clasped and with his
right forearm firmly supported on his left
thigh. Now, with your left hand lift your
riding skirt in front, and place your left
foot in his hands. Let go the skirt, rest
your left hand on his shoulder, and, giving
him the cue by bending the right knee,
spring up erect on the left foot, and seat
ing yourself sideways on the saddle, place
the right knee over the horn.
If your attendant is unused to rendering
such service, yon had better make your
first essaysin some secluded place, in which
you can instruct him where too stand, lust
how high to lift your foot, and caution
him to put forth strength enough to sup
port you steadily without lifting too VIC
lently. Do not be deferred by awkward
ness on his part or on your own from learn
ing to mount from the ground, for the
more awkward the better practice for YOU.
Your attendant will now lift your skirt
above the knee, so that it will hang pro-
perly without dragging, and then olsen
gage the stirrup from beneath the skirt,
will place your left foot in it.
Too much care can not be taken with the
position in the saddle. The left leg should
invariably hang perpendicularly from the
knee, with the heel depressed, and with
the foot parallel with the horses side
The length of the stirrup strap should
be such that the knee thus is
out Of contact with the hunting horn, but
near enough to be brought firmly up
against it by raising the heel The right
knee should rest easily but snugly over the
pommel, so as to crap it in case the horse
springs. Neither foot should be allowed
to sway about nor project SO as to be seen
awkwardly poking out of the skirt. If
your clothing does not feel quite comforta-
bic, rise in your stirrup and shake it down,
resting your hand, if necessary, on your
attendants shoulder, for it will be very
awkward should it become disarranged on
the road. Now put your handkerchief in
the saddle pocket, take the reins in the
left hand, or in both hands, as you prefer,
and start the horse with touch of the
heel. 1t is very bad form to start him with
cut of the whip. If it is necessary at
this time to turn about, make your horse
step around with his hind legs, so as to
avoid turning your back and presenting
the horses launches toward any one with
whom you may be talking.
A question much discussed and disputed
in this country is this: On which side of
her escort should lady ride? In Eng
land the universal habit of turning to the
left places the lady on the left, but here
we turn to the right, and so the lady should
be on the right Mr.. Mead wonders why
some independent American ladies do not
set the fashion of sitting on the right side.
The Princess of Wales, he says, always
does SO for some special reasons, and the
Empress Of Austria, one of the boldest and
most graceful riders, as well as one of the
most beautiful women in Europe, has sad !.
dies made both ways, using them alter
nately. The same plan is adopted by no.
BILE ladies of England who hunt regularly
in the season. However, accepting the
present feminine seat as thing not to be
changed, the advantage in this country of
riding on the one hand of the escort or on
the other are so equally divided that the
balance may incline to either side. and
? l.