298 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



possibility of his doing so to any mischievous degree, the 

 india-rubber reins may with advantage be continued ; but 

 the best way of all will be to back the animal yourself : 

 always provided that you are a sufficiently light weight 

 for the purpose. 



When the saddle is first placed in position, the extremest 

 gentleness must be observ^ed. Allow him, beforehand, 



o 



to look at it, smell it, in short satisfy himself about it, 

 and then proceed to rub it softly down his neck, pausing 

 if he shows fear, and slipping it gradually backwards until 

 you quietly lift it into its place. When it is fairly 

 on his back, you should lift it again, and again replace 

 it, and keep moving it gently about in order to give 

 him confidence, and when you have induced him to stand 

 quite still, fasten it with a racmg surcingle instead of an 

 ordinary girth, as it is more readily adjusted, and need 

 not be drawn so tight. 



To mount him successfully, place him so that the 

 mounting-block shall be just behind his shoulder ; ascend 

 the block with the utmost coolness and quietness, and 

 while standing on it proceed to pet your pupil, stroking 

 him, talking to him, and "gentling" him as though he 

 were a timid child. If he shows signs of alarm, go no 

 further for a while, but wait quietly— no matter how long it 

 may be— even deferring the lesson to another day, until 

 he shall have gained complete confidence in your instruc- 

 tions. Half the horses that refuse to stand to be mounted 

 have been rendered rider-shy (if I may coin a word) by 

 scolding, and harsh treatment shown them in their early 



