68 ORDINARY RIDING. 



near stirrup iron, at which moment it often happens that 

 the horse attempts one of the defences already described. If 

 the movement is only slight, we can correct it by the action 

 of the reins without changing our position. If it is violent, 

 we can place our foot on the ground and correct him with the 

 whip. 



Finally, we should bear in mind that as soon as we are in 

 the saddle, we should have the snaffle reins in their respective 

 hands, and we should hold them only just short enough to 

 enable us, by a light feeling on them, to steady the horse, in 

 the event of his " playing up." 



I ought to admit that my method of getting into the saddle 

 is contrary to the principles which are generally taught. In 

 fact, it is always laid down that to mount, the rider ought to 

 take both reins of the snaffle and a lock of the mane near the 

 withers in his left hand ; place the right hand on the centre of 

 the saddle, raise himself on the stirrup, and, when his left knee 

 is straight, carry his right hand quickly from the cantle to the 

 pommel, while passing his right leg over the horse. He then 

 sits down. By this system the rider is unable to counteract 

 any movement made by the horse. Further, at the moment 

 when the right hand passes from the cantle to the pommel, the 

 equilibrium of the rider is as unstable as possible, and can be 

 upset by the slightest cause. Precisely on account of this want 

 of equilibrium, the rider falls, instead of sits, down on the 

 saddle, and by falling in this manner he can unfortunately 

 hurt himself, especially on the pommel, if the horse makes a 

 single step to the rear. 



With the method which I advocate, the rider is able to avoid 

 any accident, to stop any "playing up," or even any movement 

 on the part of the horse ; because he holds a snaffle rein in 

 each hand. 



When I lunge a horse, I take care to girth him with a 

 moderate degree of tightness before putting him into a trot. 



