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[It is held to be, as a rule, better for 

 beginners that their first lessons should be 

 given on saddles with stirrups. By this 

 means they gain confidence, and the muscles 

 of their legs become stronger. They are 

 also able to assume a more correct position 

 on horseback. But after eight or ten. 

 lessons of this kind, most of them may be 

 fit to ride without stirrups. It has almost 

 invariably been observed that when young 

 men commence on a numnah they cling by 

 the lower part of the leg, or by the heel, 

 while if riding on a saddle without stirrups, 

 they take the additional precaution of 

 holding on by the saddle, or by a friendly 

 wallet, when their instructor is not supposed 

 to be looking. The consequence is that 

 bad habits are formed, which cannot easily 

 be given up. This is especially notice- 

 able with regard to the use of the lower 

 part of the leg in holding on, which is a 

 habit acquired in riding without stirrups 

 before being prepared for it. The rider will, 

 therefore, at this stage be tauglit to mount 

 and dismount with stirrups, and will be 

 placed in the proper position with stirrups 

 (see page 53). When pupils have become 

 tolerably confirmed in that position, and 



