MOUNTING. 43 



then there remains nothing for him but a fourteen hands 

 cob, and the mounting block. 



In adopting the first and strictly orthodox plan, the rider 

 had better tighten the off rein a trifle more than the other, 

 as, otherwise, he may find a playful animal, when he is 

 placing his foot in the stirrup^ giving him a nibble or even 

 taking a pattern out of the seat of his breeches. On the 

 other hand, when mounting with his face to the horse's 

 head, if, perchance, his toe gave the horse's ribs a prod — ■ 

 a not unlikely occurrence — he might happen on a stern 

 reminder from the near hind hoof. 



With practice, backed up by a moderate degree of agility, 

 the act of mounting quietly and neatly, without any strain 

 to yourself or horse, will be acquired in a very few lessons. 



Mounting without Stirrups. 



As the first lessons in equitation should be conducted 

 without stirrups, it is essential that the beginner — man, youth, 

 or boy — should learn to vault into the saddle without the 

 assistance of these adjuncts. In the army, recruits are 

 constantly practised at rapidly mounting and dismounting j 

 and if these exercises can be, as they are, neatly and actively 

 executed on and off a military saddle, the average civilian can 

 have no dilBculty in going through them on the plain riding 

 or hunting saddle, with its low pommel and cantle. The 

 illustrations, reproduced from instantaneous photographs, 

 represent the various positions of mounting without stirrups 

 from the near side; but, in practice, the rider should accustom 

 himself to get into the saddle from either side. Horses should 

 be mounted and dismounted, led, and fed, as often on the 

 off as the near side. Many horses, restless when being 

 mounted on the near side, submit quietly when mounted on 



