374 RIDING 



hand and left foot, and the right leg brought clear over the 

 horse's croup to the near side ; heels close, right hand on the 

 cantle of the saddle as in mounting. (It should be explained 

 to the pupil that a pause is always to be made here both in 

 mounting and dismounting ; in case the horse is not steady or 

 anything wrong, he can from this position come down or not 

 as may be best.) The body is now to be lowered till the right 

 foot is on the ground. Then, keeping the hands in the same 

 position, take the left foot out of the stirrup and place it in 

 line with the horse's fore feet. The pupil is then to quit his hold 

 with both hands and turn to his left, as he turns taking hold 

 of the rein about six inches from the ring of the snaffle and 

 raising the horse's head. This will be sufficient for the first 

 lesson, and should have occupied from half an hour to forty 

 minutes. 



LESSON II 



The second lesson must be begun exactly in the same way 

 as the first, as it is not to be supposed that the pupil will re- 

 member all that he has been told in the previous one. The 

 mounting motions must be performed correctly, and the pupil 

 placed in the saddle as before directed. The instructor should 

 walk round the school with him, halting him now and again, 

 and pointing out faults, and if the pupil be tolerably confident 

 he may be encouraged to trot very steadily a few times from 

 one end of the school to the other. He will be sure to roll 

 about a little at first, but too much must not be expected. It 

 is quite sufficient that he should sit on the horse's back, get used 

 to the motion, and try to go with the horse without stiffness. 



When sitting at ease he may be allowed to take his feet out 

 of the stirrups and stretch his limbs well down, taking the 

 stirrups and being correctly placed again before moving off. 

 When he has been mounted about half an hour he should be 

 turned into the centre of the school and dismounted. If he is 

 not tired, and eager to do more, he may be mounted and dis- 

 mounted again once and then dismissed. 



