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CHAPTER VII. 

 MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



Before Mounting Mounting with Stirrups Mounting with Stirrups in Military 

 Style Mounting without Stirrups Getting a Leg Up Mounting during 

 Movement Dismounting when Halted Dismounting with Stirrups in Military 

 Style. 



BEFORE MOUNTING. 



IT is desirable for the rider, unless he has saddled and 

 bridled the horse himself, to see that these operations have 

 been carried out correctly ; and that the stirrups are of the 

 proper length. 



After a little practice, the rider will be able to get the 

 approximate length of his stirrups before mounting, by mea- 

 suring them with his arm. This will be about the distance of 

 the tips of the fingers to the arm-pit, when the arm is held 

 straight (Fig. i/o). The shape of the horse or saddle may 

 cause this length to vary a hole or two, one way or the other. 

 We must not, however, overlook the fact that men's arms 

 and legs do not always bear a fixed proportion to one 

 another, in which case the arm measurement will not be a 

 reliable test of correct length of stirrup. 



Major Dwyer points out that " for the absolute length of 

 the stirrup no special rule can be given applicable to all 

 circumstances and to all kinds of riding. . . . The only 

 general rule is never make your stirrups so long as to render 

 your tread on them insecure, nor so short as to allow them 

 to cramp up your legs and deprive them of the requisite 

 power of motion, making you depend on your stirrups 

 and not on your seat for your position in the saddle." 



