DISMOUNTING. 181 



mane, and with the flat of his right hand on the centre of 

 the saddle. He then sinks carefully down in the seat and 

 takes the stirrups. If the saddle be a very light one, the 

 jockey when getting into it, should bear the weight of his 

 body on his thighs, and should not plump suddenly down in 

 the saddle lest he might injure the tree. The same method 

 of mounting may be adopted with an ordinary saddle, though 

 the precautions I have described against breaking it need not 

 be observed. 



MOUNTING DURING MOVEMENT. 



As directed by Colonel Greenwood, the rider should hold 

 the reins and mane in his left hand and the pommel with 

 his right, and then spring into the saddle, after taking a few 

 steps along with the horse. This is much easier to do when 

 the horse is in movement than when he is standing still, and 

 is a very useful feat to learn. Being able to mount in this 

 manner may, after a fall, save a man from being thrown out 

 during a run, or from losing a steeplechase. 



The best way to learn to mount in this manner, is on a 

 horse lunged by another man, or on an animal in a small 

 circular track, like that of a circus. At first it is well to 

 have a steady horse that has been taught to do a slow, well- 

 collected canter, which is the easiest pace for mounting in this 

 manner. A pair of side reins, shortened as may be necessary, 

 will help to collect the horse without entailing trouble on the 

 rider, who will generally have quite enough to do in looking 

 after himself. If the horse is not very quiet, it is better 

 to lunge him with the " long reins " than with a single 

 lunging rein and a caveson ; for far more control can be 

 obtained by the former than by the latter. 



DISMOUNTING WHEN HALTED. 



I. The readiest way is to take the reins in the left hand, 

 draw them through it, and grasp the mane about half way 



