S)int£i to 5autJtltng; ^porti^mm. 27 



mount with less ceremony — sometimes as they please, 

 and often as they don't ; now on this side, now on 

 that ; often over their horses' heads, and occasionally 

 in a Spurgeon-like manner over their tails. If you, 

 however, ride in long-necked spurs, and your horse 

 has the not unusual habit of tossing his head grace- 

 fully up and down after you have slackened or released 

 your hold upon the bit, you will find no readier mode 

 of dismounting than by throwing your right leg over 

 his withers. The chances are that your spur will 

 then come in contact with his neck, or mane, and the 

 celerity with which you will dismount, should he 

 raise his head favourably at the time, will probably 

 astound you. 



We will now suppose you to be seated in the 

 saddle, with the reins, in a confused bunch, tightly 

 grasped in your hand ; and, further, that you have 

 set your horse in motion in the most approved 

 manner, which I need hardly tell you is by making 

 sundry clicking or parrot-like sounds with the 

 tongue. Here I may, by the way, note that it is 

 desirable for you to put as much leather (such as 

 noseband, breastplate, etc.) on your horse as he 

 can carry, and regardless of his requirements. By 

 such a course you keep the pores of his skin con- 

 stantly open in the parts they chafe, and the custom 

 is one favorable to the interests of trade. 



