A FEW HINTS 191 



putting the finger tips on the bar and stretching 

 the arm to its full extent, at the same time 

 bringing the stirrup iron in the direction of the 

 armpit. When the sole of the stirrup iron 

 reaches the armpit with the stirrup leather taut 

 the latter will be about the correct length. I 

 would advise every man to accustom himself to ride 

 at different lengths ; he will find it ease him 

 very much when he has been many hours in the 

 saddle. I used to have the holes in my stirrup 

 leathers punched at half-inch intervals and some- 

 times rode a hole shorter and sometimes a hole 

 longer than m}^ usual length. In my young 

 days we were accustomed to hack long distances 

 to meet hounds, foxes were straighter running 

 then than they are now and there was generally 

 a long ride home at night. On those occasions 

 I used to ride a hole shorter than my usual 

 length on going to the fixture, and a hole longer 

 than my usual length — sometimes two — on 

 returning home. I am sure it is a relief to the 

 horse as well as to the rider. 



Having got the length of the stirrup leather 

 fixed approximately the next thing to do is to 

 mount the horse. Take up the reins with the left 

 hand, taking care to keep them short, stand well 

 in front of the horse, put the stirrup on to the 

 left foot with the right hand, taking care that the 

 foot is well home in it, then take hold of the 

 cantle of the saddle with the right hand, and 

 swing the right leg over the horse's back, taking 

 care to get the knee and thigh into position as 



