MOUNTING. 207 



horses, I need hardly say, is not the standard by 

 which we should gauge the safety of any method of 

 breaking, which, in order to be generally useful, 

 should not demand from the person who practises 

 it, the possession of exceptional activity, or fool- 

 hardiness. When the off-side leading-rein is on, 

 the breaker can, with perfect safety, catch it while 

 the horse is turning round ; for, at that time, it 

 swings entirely clear of the fore-limb, and in a 

 convenient position for the breaker to lay hold of 

 it. If a man mounts a horse tied head and tail, 

 with the cord unconfined by girth or surcingle, 

 he is placed in the uncomfortable dilemma of 

 riding without any ''grip" on the saddle, by 

 having his left leg pulled upwards and outwards 

 by the cord, or of having this limb imprisoned 

 between the cord and the animal's side ; while, in 

 either case, the man is in a most dangerous 

 position, on an animal that is revolving round 

 and round, with little or no control over its own 

 movements. We may see, therefore, that the 

 simple head and tail method, without the improve- 



