TAMING HORSES. 141 



gradually on it, he will see you, without being 

 frightened, in a position very nearly the same as 

 when you are on his back. 



As soon as he will bear this without alarm, un- 

 tie the stirrup-strap next to you, and put your left 

 foot into the stirrup, and stand square over it, hold- 

 ing your knee against the horse, and your toe out, 

 so as to touch him under the shoulder with the toe 

 of your boot. Place your right hand on the front 

 of the saddle, and on the opposite side of you, ta- 

 king hold of a portion of the mane and the reins, 

 as they hang loosely over his neck, with your left 

 hand; then gradually bear your weight on the 

 stirrup, and on your right hand, until the horse 

 feels your whole weight on the saddle : repeat this 

 several times, each time raising yourself a little 

 higher from the block, until he will allow you to 

 raise your leg over his croup and place yourself in 

 the saddle. 



There are three great advantages in having a 

 block to mount from. First, a sudden change of 

 position is very apt to frigliten a young horse who 

 has never been handled : he will allow you to walk 

 up to him, and stand by his side, without scaring 

 at you, because you have gentled him to that po- 

 sition ; but if you get down on your hands and 

 knees, and crawl towards him, he will be very 

 much frightened ; and upon the same pi'inciple he 



