IV. 



Precautions in Saddling. In order to accustom yoiin^,' 

 horses to their equipment, they should he saddled during 

 the period when they are exercised hy leading. The saddle 

 is put on without stirrups or stirrup straps; it must not })e 

 placed too far hack, and on leaving the stahle, the girth 

 should be tightened only slightly. The girths are readjusted 

 during the exercise. 



With nervous horses, it will be well to use the longe to 

 quiet them by a little work before placing the saddle on the 

 back. 



After the horses have become accustomed to the saddle 

 and the girth, the stirrups should be replaced and allowed 

 to hang down on each side during several exercises. In this 

 manner the horse will be perfectly prepared for the lesson in 

 mounting which becomes that much more simple; early 

 resistance frequently results from both saddling and mount- 

 ing a horse for the first time on the same day. 



Mounting Lesson. At first the trooper should get into 

 the saddle as skillfully as possible without any attempt to 

 mount by the numbers, and especially without being in any 

 way exacting. 



The lesson should be given after the horse has been 

 worked for some time or at the end of his work. An assist- 

 ant stands facing each horse. 



The trooper approaches the horse's head, caresses him 

 on the forehead, on the eyes, the neck and the haunches. 

 He slaps the saddle, pulls the stirrups out and lets then) 

 drop back; he then grasps the reins, leaving them very 

 long. He mounts the horse without hurry but also without 

 hesitation. 



If, during the lesson, the horse backs or moves away, 

 ihe trooper returns to the animal's head, leads him up a 

 step or two with the snaffle reins and gently begins the les- 

 son anew. 



(27) 



