IV. 



Precautions in saddling. — In order to accustom young 

 horses to their equi])ment, they should be saddled during 

 the period when they are exercised by leading. The sad- 

 dle is put on without stirrups or stirrup straps; it must 

 not be placed too far back, and, on leaving the stable, the 

 girth should be tightened only slightly. The girths are 

 readjusted during the exercise. 



With nervous horses, it will be well to use the longe to 

 quiet them by a little work before placing the saddle on 

 the back. 



After the horses have become accustomed to the saddle 

 and the girth, the stirrups should be replaced and allowed 

 to hang down on each side during several exercises. In 

 this manner the horee will be perfectly prepared for the 

 lesson in mounting which becomes that much more sim- 

 ple; early resistance frequently results from both sad- 

 dling and mounting a horse for the first time on the same 

 day. 



Mounting lesson. — At first the trooper should get into 

 the saddle as skillfully as possible without any attempt to 

 mount by the numbers, and especially without being in 

 any way exacting. 



The lesson should be given after the horse has been 

 worked for some time or at the end of his work. An 

 assistant stands facing each horse. 



The trooper approaches the horse's head, caresses him 

 on the forehead, on the eyes, the neck, and the haunches. 

 He slaps the saddle, pulls the stirrups out and lets them 

 drop back; he then grasps the reins, leaving them very 

 long. He mounts the horse without hurry, but also with- 

 out hesitation. 



25 



