52 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



the neck ; then after placing the stirrup on the left 

 foot with the right hand, to take hold of the pommel 

 with it and mount ; if the horse plunges, the rider will 

 then feel quite secure, with the hold he has with the 

 hands, until he can get his right foot into the stirrup. 

 It is better not to have a horse held by the head when 

 he is being mounted, ?s plunging is generally caused by 

 the groom hanging on to the bridle. If necessary, the 

 groom can hold the right reins lightly, and draw the 

 horse's head towards the right, as the rider puts his 

 right foot into the stirrup. 



We will start with the assumption that our horse 

 has been through the necessary work on foot with the 

 lunging rein, and that he will quietly allow himself to 

 be mounted : the rider will now proceed to secure that 

 most necessary of all qualities — Impulsion. The horse 

 must always answer the slightest pressure of the rider's 

 legs by forward movement. To obtain this, the main 

 point is to ease the hands before pressing in the knees 

 and legs, and then to stop the horse by first easing the 

 legs, and then closing the fingers tightly on the reins. 

 Till the horse's education is well advanced these two 

 aids should not be combined. " Mains sans jambes and 

 jambes sans mains " should be, as Baucher says, the 

 trainer's motto until the horse goes forward without the 

 slightest hesitation when the legs tell him to do so. 

 This forward movement should not only be certain, 

 but it should also be calm ; leg action should, therefore, 

 always be gentle and gradual, working from the knee 

 downwards, and the horse must be trained to take it 

 without resentment or disturbance of any kind. A 

 kindly pat on the neck every time he answers to the 

 legs will soon secure ready obedience. 



When the horse answers readily to the legs he 



