TRAINING THE YOUNG HORSE 83 



on the off stirrup leather), and push himself up as it were from 

 the right instep, until the body is nearly upright, keeping his 

 knee pressed firmly on the flap of the saddle, and then pause 

 again for the next word. If there be a doubt and it is ' Down,' 

 he will lower his body gently until his right foot is on the 

 ground again, but if everything has gone satisfactorily, and the 

 word is ' In ' he will bring his right leg over the horse's croup, 

 taking care not to touch him with it, and place his right hand 

 at the same time on the pommel of the saddle so as to sit down 

 in it gently. The man on the off side will place the right foot 

 in the stirrup for him. Once seated in the saddle, he must, 

 after taking a rein in each hand, sit perfectly still, bearing in 

 mind that he has very little control over the animal, and leaving 

 himself entirely in the hands of the man who holds the caves- 

 son rein. The third man should now let go of the horse's 

 head, giving him wholly into the hands of the man with the 

 cavesson, who should talk to him and make much of him in 

 the same soothing tone of voice as when he began to longe 

 him ; there is a great deal more in the influence of the voice 

 of a man when properly used than most people are aware of. 

 The man leading him must be on the alert, and if the horse 

 attempts to spring suddenly forward, a sharp pull of the caves - 

 son rein upwards in time will in most cases stop him ; but if 

 the man be caught napping and the horse get the start and his 

 head between his fore legs, he is not easily pulled up, and it 

 generally ends in grief for the rider ; and can it be said that the 

 fault is his ? If the horse be inclined to run back when first 

 mounted, the third man may be of assistance to go behind 

 him and keep him up. 



Supposing the horse has submitted placidly to the ordeal, 

 he should, after being mounted, be allowed to stand perfectly 

 quiet for a few minutes, and once again be made much of. Then 

 try to lead him forward a few paces. If he go kindly, halt him 

 and make much of him again. It may happen, however, that your 

 horse has been perfectly quiet to mount, but when you wish him 

 to move off the ground he has been mounted on, no amount of 



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