MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICEES. 181 



The instructor takes care that the recruit in adjusting the 

 reins provokes no movement of the horse and deranges in no 

 manner the position of the horse's head. 



The instructor cautions the trooper to avoid touching the 

 horse with the left toe in mounting; this fault begets nearly 

 all the resistance of horses to standing quietly while being 

 mounted. 



The modifications incident to mounting and dismounting a 

 horse equipped with the double snaffle or bit and bridoon are 

 indicated in pars. 271, 303, and 307. The troopers are also 

 trained to mount on the right side. 



192. To dismount: Being halted, DISMOUNT. 



(a) Seize the reins with the right hand in front of and near 

 the left, forefinger between the reins, the reins entering the 

 -hand from the side of the forefinger ; drop the reins with the 

 left hand ; place the right hand on the pommel ; grasp a lock 

 of the mane with the left hand, the lock coming out between 

 the thumb and forefinger ; take the right foot out of the 

 stirrup. 



(6) Rise upon the left stirrup, pass the right leg, knee bent, 

 over the croup without touching the horse, and bring the right 

 foot by the side of the left, the loft knee against the saddle, 

 the upper part of the body inclined slightly forward ; descend 

 lightly to the ground and take the position of stand to horse. 



The troopers are also trained to dismount on the right side. 



193. Commanding ofl^cers may authorize the following alter- 

 native method of mounting and dismounting by officers and 

 enlisted men on all occasions except those when it is required 

 that mounting and dismounting be executed in unison at 

 the corresponding command (par. 354). Instruction in the 

 methods authorized in this paragraph is optional. 



Being at stand to horse, at the command MOUNT, face to the 

 right, drop the right rein, take a step to the right to be oppo- 

 site the shoulder of the horse ; at the same time sieze the bights 

 of the reins in the right hand- and pull them taut enough to 

 give a gentle, even bearing on the horse's mouth ; grasp the 

 reins with the left hand, with the little finger between them, 

 and the bight coming out between the thumb and forefinger, 

 which also hold a lock of the mane. Place the left foot in the 



