200 



CHAP. XLVI. 



ON RIDING 



THE military mount their horses in the fol- 

 lowing manner: — ^The dragoon stands square 

 at his horse's shoulder, with his right side to 

 the horse, -and facing to the front, holding the 

 snafHe, or badoon rein, tight in his right hand, 

 as near the check as possible. At the words 

 ** Prepare to mount," he faces to the right, 

 turning on his left heel_, and stepping about 

 three parts of a pace out with his right foot, 

 opposite the girth, and about four inches in 

 the rear of the left, so as not to move it when 

 the left is put into the stirrup. He then takes 

 the badoon rein in the middle, where it lies on 

 the witliers, by putting the four fingers under 

 it, ;md raising the points a little. The rein 

 tlien falls down towards the thumb, across the 

 hand ; at the same time taking the joining or 

 nut of the bit-rein between the fore finger, and 



