the mane at the withers does not become pressed upon by the pommel of the saddle, the irritation from which often causes the animal to " play up."

A few words about putting a lady into a saddle may be useful, not only for horsewomen, but also for men who have the somewhat parlous honour of touching a lady's foot. I regret to say that when being " put up " a lady generally does the very opposite of what she ought to do. She places the left foot in the hands of her male attendant, and jumps from the right foot on to the left foot, while carrying the body forward, with the result that all the weight falls suddenly on the hands of the man, who is inevitably pushed backwards and away from the shoulder of the animal. On the contrary, when her left foot is on his hands, she ought to use the right leg only to make a slight spring which will enable her, by straightening her left knee, to hold the body upright and a little inclined to the rear. This is a very simple movement, and is exactly similar to that which one makes when getting up a rather high step of a staircase. The lady should not try to jump up, but should limit her spring to straightening the left knee, while keeping the upper part of the body well bent forward ; and she should use her arms, her left hand resting on the shoulder of her attendant and her right hand on the upper crutch. In acting thus, she will mount quite straight by the impulse given by the hands, and will come naturally on the saddle, and will carry the seat a little to the rear. She should not try to place herself on the horse, which is the business of her attendant, but should merely occupy herself with sitting down. If a lady attempts to jump into the saddle, she will generally strike it and fall on the man.

I cannot help adding that the old practice of giving the left foot is bad, and am unable to explain its origin or the reason of its continuance. In fact, to be put on the saddle with the left foot on the hands of the attendant, the lady, when she is