The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22
middle crutch. After this graceful mount
she should lift herself up from the saddle,

so the gentleman can draw her habit from
under her until smooth. He should then
place her left foot in the stirrup, including
with it fold of her habit, and when she is
firmly seated she should take her reins and
use them the same as gentleman.
1t is difficult to make every one perfect,
and the mistake that is constantly being
made in mounting is in the use of the lady's
knee which should be carefully Strengthened
the moment it can be effected, for if kept
bent it requires great power to lift lady
into the saddle, whereas with good spring
and straight knee she ought to weigh but
a few pounds in the hand.
Some popular fallacies exist about
lady's seat, and many suppose that it is
very weak one: depending entirely upon
aginable. for there can be no doubt from
what is seen in private as we'll as in the cir
Gus that 1t requires as great an effort Of the
horse to dislodge good female rider as it
does gentleman. When the old single
crutch was in use it gave good hold to the
leg, tut now that the third is added, the
grip is really a firm one. When this is not
used the crutch is laid hold of by the right
leg and pinched between the calf of the leg
az the thigh. so rs to afford firm and
steady hold for the whole body, especial
when aided by the stirrups. But the latter
support merely preserves the balance and is
useful also in trotting. 1t does not at all
give firm. steady seat, though it adds to
one already obtained by the knee. When
two crutches are used the leg should be
as before, but between the two knees the
two crutches are firmly laid hold of, the
upper one being under the right knee and
the lower one above the left. The right
knee hooked over the crutch keeps the body
from slipping backwards. while the left
keeps it from a forward motion, and
thus the proper position is maintained. In
every instance the right foot should be kept
back and the point of the toe should scarcely
be visible.
Now these points should be carefully kept
in view by all lady riders. and they should
selves by the grasp of the clutches without
reference to the stirrup iron. And another
point: In spite of her seat the body should
be square to the front with the elbow easily
bent and preserved in its proper position by
the same ,precaution. As rule, the whip
should be held in the right hand, with the
lash pointing forward and toward the
left, and by this position it may be
used on any part of the horses
body by reaching over to the left and
cutting before or behind the saddle, or.
with equal ease, on the right side. Its use
may, therefore, in all cases be substituted
for the pressure of the leg in the description
of the modes of effecting the change of the
leg, turning to the right or left, or leading
with either leg. do not advise violent at
LeInptS III coerClO }, because DelleVe tne
fine hand and delicate tact of the lady can
be relied upon solely, SO that all the feats
that man can perform may be initiated by
her.
In dismounting, the horse should be
brought to dead stop, and his head
held by an assistant. The lady then turns
her knee back again from the position
between the outside crutch, takes her foot
out of the stirrup and sits completely side
ways. She should then put her left hand on
the gentleman's shoulder. who places his
right arm around her waist and lightly as
sists her to the ground.
A word or two about the use of the whip.