MOUNTING, 163 



down, and as close behind the girth as possible (see 

 page 120). 



How to Mount. — A lady may mount her horse in the 

 following ways : 



I. The groom should stand in front of the horse, and 

 should keep his head up by holding the snaffle reins, one 

 in each hand, close to the rings. He ougnt, on no ac- 

 count, to hold the bit reins, lest an accident might 

 happen, from the curb hurting the mouth. If there be 

 no snaffle, the cheekpieces of the headstall of the curb 

 should be held. With a strange or uncertain-tempered 

 horse, it is best for the lady to approach him from his 

 "left front." If he be very fidgety, and a wall or hedge 

 be near, he might be put close up against it, so that he 

 may not get away. Having arrived alongside her mount, 

 she should stand just behind his near fore leg, close to, 

 though not touching him, and facing to the front, at right 

 angles to his side. She now takes the whip and reins 

 in her right hand, and lightly feels the horse's mouth 

 with the snaffle reins, while her hand rests on the pommel. 

 If the horse has a tender mouth, the reins ought to be 

 held quite slack. She then raises her left foot about 

 twelve inches from the ground, keeping it in a vertical 

 line with her shoulder, and not advancing it in any way. 



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