20 MOUNTING. 



it, for they do not seem to understand, that this lesson is 

 intended to supple the horse, and not to cripple him. 



The lesson with the cross should be repeated until the 

 horse lifts himself freely in front, and steps well up to 

 the bit, the reins, as I have said, having a light feeling on 

 his mouth, the horse bent to the hand on which he is 

 going; and to obtain this, it will be quite sufficient to 

 shorten the inward rein from two to about three inches, 

 being particular to keep him up to that free action which 

 I mentioned before. 



Mounting. 



When the horse has been sufficiently prepared by the 

 foregoing lessons, the next attempt must be to mount him. 

 I would recommend, when circumstances will permit, to sad- 

 dle him an hour or more before he is to be mounted, that he 

 may feel the saddle on his back, and be the more reconciled 

 to it. Two men will be required to assist him who has 

 to mount, one to hold the longeing rein, (the spare end 

 being folded up in his left hand,) and the cheek -piece of 

 the snaffle firmly held with the right, facing the horse, and 

 keeping his head up. The other on the off side must with 

 the right hand firmly hold the cheek-piece of the snaffle, 

 and at the same time the stirrup leather with the left 

 near the saddle tree, pressing his arm well down upon 

 the saddle, in order that when the man raises himself in 

 the stirrup, he may keep the saddle with an equal pressure 

 on the colt's back, to prevent him from being disturbed 

 while the man is mounting ; and on his being quietly seated 

 in the saddle, he must let his hand slide down to the stir- 

 rup, for the mounted man to place his foot in it. 



The earliest thing to teach the young horse in mounting 

 is, to stand still, which at first he will be very unlikely to 



