PREPARATORY LESSON. 43 



elapse without the most stupid and awk 

 ward recruit being able to seat himself pro 

 perly without the aid of the word of com 

 mand. 



Preparatory lesson (the lesson to last an 

 hour, two lessons daily for a month). The 

 horse is led upon the ground, saddled and 

 bridled. The instructor must take two pu 

 pils ; one will hold the horse by the bridle, 

 and observe what the other does, that he 

 may be able to perform in his turn. The 

 pupil will approach the horse s shoulder 

 and prepare to mount ; for this purpose he 

 will lay hold of and separate with the right 

 hand, a handful of mane, and pass it into 

 the left hand, taking hold as near the roots 

 as possible, without twisting them ; he will 

 seize the pommel of the saddle with the 

 right hand, the four fingers inside, and the 

 thumb outside; then springing lightly, he 



