i8o MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



if he can reach it. If tall enough, he should place the flat 

 of his right hand on the centre of the saddle, and not on the 

 cantle, lest by bearing his weight on the cantle, he might hurt 

 the tree. He should then raise his left foot off the ground, 

 and the man who is going to give him a leg up, should take 

 hold of his left leg, just above the foot, with his right hand 

 (Fig. 178), or, if the rider is comparatively heavy, he may 



Fig. 178. Getting a leg-up. 



place his fore-arm underneath the rider's left leg, close to the 

 foot, steadying himself the while with his left hand on the 

 horse's mane, and should raise him up without giving any 

 jerk, which might cause him to come heavily down on the 

 saddle, or might cant him over to the other side. The jockey 

 being raised to the proper height, brings his right leg over 

 the saddle while steadying himself with his left hand on the 



