The first operation preparatory to dismounting is, to bring the horse to an easy yet perfect stop.
If the lady be light, and dexterous, she may dismount without assistance.
The lady when preparing to dismount, should take the reins in her right hand, and put the whip in her left. The reins should be held sufficiently tight, to restrain the horse from advancing; and yet not so firmly, as to cause him to back, rear, or swerve.
The lady should next disengage her right leg from the pommel clearing her dress as she raises her knee; place her right hand on the near crutch, and take her foot out of the stirrup.
If the lady be assisted, the gentleman taking her left hand in his left, places his right hand under her left elbow, which she keeps firm to her side; as she springs, he supports her in her descent, she retains hold of the crutch or of the hunting pommel; as she quits the saddle, she turns to face the gentleman, who stands near the horse’s shoulder, and alights on the ground on the balls of her feet.
If the lady dismount without assistance, after clearing her foot from the stirrup, she places her right hand on the near crutch, and her left upon the third crutch or hunting pommel, she must spring clear from the saddle facing towards the horse’s side as she descends. By whatever mode the lady dismount, she should, to prevent an unpleasant shock on reaching the ground bend her knees, suffer her body to be perfectly pliant, and alight upon the balls of her feet; she is not to relinquish her hold, nor the gentleman to withdraw his support, until she be perfectly safe on the ground.
Riding for recreation, and riding for improvement, are distinct things, yet both are necessary. Many persons unacquainted with the principles of “Horsemanship,” can perceive no other excellence, than riding boldly, and riding fast, and some even assert, that a horse broken by a riding master, has been spoiled; this idea is easily accounted for, as the better a horse is broken or educated, the more unsuited he is for an awkward rider.
There are many, it is true, who have been in the habit of riding from their infancy, who, although they never have had any instructions, ride hunting, or on a straight road admirably well; but many more affect to ride as well, who commit the greatest absurdities.
Though the ordinary modes of riding may gratify, and convey one on a horse’s back, wherever the will directs, yet, from want of knowledge of the true principles of riding, one is continually exposed to innumerable hazards.
Most persons are desirous to ride well, though not in a manége style. To ride well, a lady must be perfectly at her ease, with a hand capable of managing her horse, with facility to herself, and comfort to her animal. These requirements will be sooner attained, by a few proper lessons, with study and application, than by years of riding without them.
To conclude, a lady on horseback cannot look too quiet; she should appear perfectly at her ease, and in perfect temper with her horse; in short whether natural, or acquired, she should seem, “born with a sweet temper, a light hand, and a good seat.”
The following typographical errors were corrected.
| Page | Error | Correction |
| 10 | hand is them | hand is then |
| 26 | by implict | by implicit |
| 28 | all probabilty | all probability |
| 32 | should he soothed | should be soothed |
| 32 | carressed | caressed |
| 37 | applicacation | application |
| 38 | perpectly | perfectly |
| 39 | to a leap, | to a leap. |
| 39 | rider’s own accute | rider’s own acute |
| 39 | of the horses | of the horse’s |
The following words were inconsistently hyphenated.
fore-hand / forehand
head-stalls / headstalls