56 



HORSEMANSHIP. 



he grasps the cantle of the saddle with the right hand 

 and the mane of the liorse with the left, the burden of 

 the purchase is then divided, and the stay of the left 

 hand may either enable the rider to reach his seat with 

 alacrity or save him from the consequences of a sudden 

 and perhaps a very severe fall. When the horse begins 

 to plunge or kick before the rider can throw his leg over 

 the saddle, then the weight of the body must be held 

 well over towards the off side, the legs pressing steadily 

 against the saddle. The horseman may remain in this 

 position until the horse has ceased to kick, or he may 

 throw his right leg over the saddle as the hind quarters 

 of the horse reach the ground. Should he consider it 

 the wiser plan to quit the horse altogether, he must re- 

 member to disengage his foot from the stirrup before he 

 makes the spring to the ground, taking especial care to 

 move with rapidity in the same direction with the horse, 

 and never to cease his hold of the reins, unless such 

 retention would prove prejudicial to the welfare of the 

 animal. In all cases of separation of man and horse the 

 first consideration of the rider is to insure an immediate 

 disconnection of the feet from the stirrup-irons, and his 

 second thought must be a firm determination to retain 

 the most vigorous grasp of the reins. 



