The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-06-14


as to be seen awkwardly poking out Of
the skirt. Ifyour clothing does not
feel quiet comfortable rise in your stir
rup and shake it down, resting your
hand on your attendants shoulder, for
it will be very awkwark should it be-
come disaranged 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 holse with q touch ofthe heel,
1t is a very bad form to start him with
a cut Of the whip. II 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 to-
wards any one with whom you may be
talking.
A question much discussed and dis
puted in this country is this: On
which side OF her escort should lady
ride? In England the universal hab-
it of turning to the left places the lady
on the left, but here we turn to the
right, and 80 the lady should be on the
right. Mr., Mead wonders that some
independent American ladies do
not set the fashion OF sitting on the
right side. The Princess of Wales, he
says, always does 80 for some special
reasons, and the Empress OF Austria,
one Of the boldest and most graceful
riders, as we'll as one of the most beau
tiful women in Europe, has saddles
made both ways, using them alternate
ly. The same plan is adopted by no.
BILE ladies of England who hunt regu.
larly in the season. However, accept
ed the present feminine seat as a
thing not to be changed, the advanta-
ges in this country Of riding on the
one hand of the escort or on the other
are so equally divided that the bel
ance may incline to either side, and a
lady is always free to do about il rs
she pleases without exciting remark.
Children should certainly be kept on
the right, and so should any exper-
fenced or very timid person and at all
times gentleman should interpose
himself between the lady under his
charge and danger of any kind-as,
for instance, reckless driver, rude
strollers or drove of cattle.
A lady's posturein the saddle should
be erect, the back slightly followed,
the breast thrown forward, the chin
drawn in SO that the neck will be
neatly vertical. The lower limbs
should rest easily but firmly in their
respective places. The seat should be
in the middle OF the saddle. and the
body should not incline to either side.
The arms should hang naturally by
the sides, with the hands a few inches
apart, just above the knee, and as low
as possible without resting upon it,
the nails turned down, the knuckles
at an angle of forty five degrees with
the horizon, the wrists bent inward so
as to permit Of little play of the
wrist joint at each tug OF the horse on
the reins. Daylight should not be
visible between lady's arms and
body.
Practice alone can give repose in
the saddle. Without it statuesqueness
can not be preserved at the trot,
the canter, the gallop, to say nothing
of incidental shying and capering,
Some suggestions are given. In "ris'
ing to the trot" you are told to bear
outwardly with the left heel, which
will keep the knee close against the
middle and prevent the leg from sway
ing about. At the same time care
must be taken not to rise toward the
left. Mr. Sidney, who is quoted, says
"The ideal OF a fine horsewomaHf is tC
L.
be erect without being rigid square t.
the front and until quite at home il
the saddle, looking religously between
her horses ears. The shoulders must
therefore, be square, but thrown bacl
little, so as to expand the chest ant
make hollow waist, such as is observ
ed in waltzing, but always flexible
On the flexibility OF the persons abov,
: the waist, and on the firmness beloV
all the grace of,equestrianism, all th
safety, depend. NerE0nsness make
both men and women poke thei
r heads Forwards stupid trick in
man, objectionable in al woman.
lady should bendlike a. willow in
} storm, always returning to. an eas,
t and upright position. Nothing bu
, archaeological, but not too lonI
continued-can establish Che all-im
: portant balance. Praetiee-wand prac
tice only--enables the rider instictive
: " to bear to the proper side, or leal
! back, as horse turns, bounds OF
;. leaps. Il is evidently not simpl'
bounding along the highway in
t straight lineion steady nag which i
t here meant. The following advic
:. given by a lady who is herself an &C
= complished horsewoman, will furnisl