THE-:- HORSE 



with his right hand he should move this hand 

 over the middle of the saddle and take a firm 

 grasp of any protruding leather on the saddle's 

 right side, or the pommel itself if the saddle is 

 Mexican. Now put the weight of the body 

 into the left stirrup, keep the toe of the right 

 boot on the ground until a balance is arrived 

 at, then springing from the ground with the 

 right foot, swing it clear of the back and cantle, 

 straightening the left leg until the rider's 

 weight is placed evenly in the middle of the 

 saddle; put the right foot through its stirrup, 

 release the right hand, and the horse is 

 mounted. 



Dismounting. — To dismount, lean forward 

 in the saddle and place the palm of the left 

 hand on the animal's neck above the withers, 

 at the same time holding the reins with this 

 hand so that a slight feel of the horse's mouth 

 is maintained. 



In this position the thumb of the left hand 

 should be pointed toward the saddle and the 

 fingers pressing the reins against the animal's 

 neck. The rider should now take a firm grasp 

 of any protruding leather on the right side of 

 the saddle near its center, or the pommel itself 

 if the saddle is Mexican, and loosening the 

 right foot in the stirrup, swing the right leg 

 backward and over the cantle to the near side, 

 meanwhile allowing the toe of the left foot to 

 pivot so that it points toward the horse's 



16 



