FIRST RIDING LESSONS 21 



on mounting, as the would-be horseman must get 

 into the saddle ere he begins to ride. It is usual to 

 mount on the near (left) side, but I advise a boy to 

 practise getting up on both sides, as, if he hurts his 

 leg, he may find it convenient. We will, however, 

 consider now mounting only on the near side. 



Stand in front of the saddle, grasp mane and reins 

 with the left hand, then place your left foot in the 

 stirrup, and swing yourself up. In this way, if the 

 horse should happen to move on, the movement 

 helps you to rise ; whereas, if you stand behind the 

 saddle, a very nasty accident may be the result. 

 Another way of mounting a young horse, or one 

 that will not stand, is to grasp the cheek of bridle 

 in the left hand, and swing yourself up with the 

 pommel, but before doing this you should ascertain 

 that the girths are sufficiently tight, or the saddle 

 may slip. 



Mounting and dismounting ought to be the first 

 step in boys' riding lessons, though of course when 

 they begin to ride as children this is not possible. 

 I am thinking, however, of a boy between eight and 

 ten, who with a little instruction would soon be 

 able to get into the saddle without any help and 

 without any one holding his pony's head. When 

 he has accomplished this, he may be trusted to go 

 out by himself, and nothing tends to give a boy 

 greater confidence than to go for a ride without 

 being accompanied by parent or groom. I always 

 think that it is a good plan for the first mounting 

 lesson to be given in the stable, and it is also an 



