19th C. Riding Etiquette and Poise

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 saddles made both ways, using them alternately. 

Women in Saddles

The Etiquette of Horseback Riding Explained

Position and Poise in the Saddle

A question much discussed and disputed in this country is this: On which side of her escort should a lady ride? In England 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 saddles made both ways, using them alternately. 

The same plan is adopted by noble ladies of England who hunt regularly in the season. However, accepting the present feminine seat as a 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 a lady is always free to do about it as she pleases, without exciting remark. 

Children should certainly be kept on the right, and so should any inexperienced or very timid person: and at all times a gentleman should interpose himself between the lady under his charge and danger of an kind — as, for instance, reckless drivers, rude strollers or a drove of cattle. 

A lady's posture in the saddle should be erect, the back slightly hollowed, the breast thrown forward, the chin drawn in so that the neck will be nearly 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 a little play of the wrist joint at each tug of the horse on the reine. Daylight should not be visible between a lady's arms and body. 

Practice alone can give repose in the saddle. Without it, statuesqueness cannot be preserved at the trot, the canter, the gallop, to say nothing of incidental shying and capering. Some suggestions are given. In "rising to the trot" you are told to bear outwardly with the left heel, which will keep the knee close against the saddle and prevent the leg from swaying 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 horsewoman is to be erect without bring rigid, square to the front and, until quite at home in the saddle, looking religiously between her horse's ears. The shoulders must, therefore, be square, but thrown back a little, so as to expand the chest and make a hollow waist, such as is observed in waltzing, but always flexible. 

On the flexibility of the person above the waist, and on the firmness below, all the grace of equestrianism, all the safety, depend. "Nervousness makes both men and women poke their heads forward — a stupid trick in a man, unpardonable in a woman. A lady should bond like a willow in a storm, always returning to an easy and nearly upright position. Nothing but practice — frequent, but not too long continued — can establish the all-important balance. Practice — and practice only — enables the rider instinctively to bear to the proper side, or lean back, as a horse turns, bounds or leaps. It is evidently not simply pounding along the high-road in a straight line on a steady nag which is here meant. 

The following advice, given by a lady who is herself an accomplished horsewoman will furnish a clue to the sort of exercise which will be really profitable. She says: "Let the pupil practice riding in circles to the right, sitting upright, but bending a little to the horse's motion, following his nose with her eye; beginning with a walk, procceed to a slow trot, increasing the action as she gains firmness in the saddle. When in a smart trot on a circle to the right she can, leaning as she should to the right, see the feet of the horse on the right side, it may be assumed that she has arrived at a firm seat." 

Another excellent exercise is to lean over, now to one side, now to the other, now in front, far enough to observe the horse's action, the motion of his feet and the regularity of his step. — Sacramento Daily Union, 1888

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Women's 19th C. Riding Etiquette

"Good form" demands that it shall be simple and entirely without ornament. The habit itself most be quite dark, or even black, perfectly plain in the waist, with black buttons up to the neck...

Women in Saddles

The Etiquette of Horseback Riding Explained

Dress Regulations — The Proper Method for Mounting

There are numerous ladies in Sacramento who engage in the very healthful pastime of horseback riding, and they will be interested in some suggestions contained in a new volume upon "Horsemanship for Women," written by Theodore H. 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 courageous, kind-hearted and sensible female need be much afraid of committing a fatal solecism. 

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 without ornament. The habit itself most be quite dark, or even black, perfectly plain in the waist, with black buttons up to the neck, and with a scant, short skirt only just long enough to cover the feet. The cuffs and collars must be of plain linen, no color or flutter of ribbon being anywhere permissible. The handkerchief must not be thrust in the breast, but kept in the saddle pocket, and if a 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 mane and entire equipment." It is in a great degree their exquisite neatness that gives such an air of style, not only to English horsewomen, but to English turnouts of all kinds, which, nevertheless, have not usually the "spick and span new" look of fashionable American equipages. On coming out, therefore, prepared for a ride, take time to look your horse over swiftly, but keenly, noting first that his eye amd general appearance indicate good health and spirits; secondly, that he has been thoroughly groomed, his mane freed from dandruff; his hoofs washed, hut not blacked; thirdly, that the saddle and bridle are perfectly clean and properly put on. 

Every buckle should have been undone and cleansed, the leather suppled, and the bright metal polished; the girth, three in number — never fewer than two— should be snug, but not tight enough to impede free breathing; and bits in their proper place, that is to say, the snaffle just high enough up not to wrinkle the corners of the month, and the curb considerably lower, with its chain, which should pass below the snaffle, laying flat and mooth 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 successful 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,holding the bridle, not by the rein, but with both hands by each cheek, just above the bit. Stand a moment and look your animal over, give your orders quietly and pat his neck for a moment, speaking pleasantly so that he may get accustomed to your voice. 

Now, standing a few inches from the saddle, facing the same way as the horse, and with your left shoulder slightly thrown back, place the right band on the second pommel, holding in it the whip, and the reins drawn just tight enough to give a 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 seating yourself sideways on the saddle, place the right knee over the horn. 

If your attendant is unused to rendering such service, you had better make your first essays in some secluded place, in which you can instruct him where to stand, just how high to lift your foot, and caution him to put forth strength enough to support you steadily without lifting too violently. Do not be deterred by awkwardness on his part or on your own from learning 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 properly without dragging, and then disengage 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 horse's 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 grap 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 comfortable, rise in your stirrup and shake it down, resting your hand, if necessary, on your attendant's 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 a touch of the heel. It is very bad form to start him with a 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 horse's haunches toward any one with whom you may be talking. —Sacramento Daily Union, 1888

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Moderator and Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia