82 RIDING 



and, if he thoroughly understands his work, should be able to 

 tell pretty easily whether the animal means to do anything awk- 

 ward or not, and even in most cases what he is likely to do. 

 The man who is going to mount should take his orders from 

 him, and they should be given quietly in an undertone. Any- 

 thing like hurry or uncertainty is to be particularly avoided. 

 The man who is mounting should be able to measure his 

 stirrups by his arm, so that they will not require any alteration 

 afterwards. He should then, after making much of the horse 

 a point which is advisedly emphasised and repeated place 

 himself in line with his fore feet, his heels being about a foot 

 and a half apart, and take up the snaffle reins in the left hand 

 without feeling the horse's mouth, then take a good lock of the 

 rnane firmly through the hand with the reins and twist it round 

 the thumb, then quietly take hold of the stirrup and pause a 

 moment. The man, it is to be inferred, will be long enough 

 on the leg and supple enough to enable him to raise the left 

 foot and place it on the stirrup, keeping the right foot steady 

 and firm on the ground without hopping about He must 

 place his knee firmly on the middle of the flap of the saddle, 

 having the knee well bent so as on no account to touch the 

 horse's side with the toe, carry the right hand quietly to the 

 cantle of the saddle, taking firm hold of it, and pause there 

 again. The man who is holding the horse by the cavesson 

 rein should be better able to tell than either of the others 

 whether it is safe for him to proceed or not, and if he has any 

 doubt should gently tell him to come down, when the foot 

 should be quietly taken out of the stirrup, the hands leave go 

 of the mane and cantle of the saddle. The horse may stand 

 for a while, beginning again as before. Supposing the horse to 

 be docile and promising the word would be ' Up,' and the man 

 who is mounting would quietly and gradually raise himself on 

 the stirrup. He is on no account, however quiet the horse 

 may appear to be, to take the liberty of springing up suddenly, 

 but should pull steadily with both hands (the man on the other 

 side keeping the saddle straight on the horse's back by bearing 



