BEGINNING TO RIDE 35 



can reach the stirrup with her foot, and 

 pull herself up by the saddle. Sometimes 

 the stirrup can be let down and used to 

 mount with, then drawn up when seat- 

 ed in the saddle. But this can only be 

 done when the stirrup leather buckles 

 over the off flap, which is not usual. 

 Another method is to lead the horse to 

 a fence or wall, climb that, and jump on to 

 his back ; but all these methods require 

 a very quiet horse, and even then are 

 not always practicable. 



It is advisable to learn to mount from 

 the ground as well as from a block. 

 This is done by placing the right hand 

 containing whip and reins on the upper 

 pommel, the left foot, with the knee 

 bent, in the clasped hands of the attend- 

 ant, the left hand on his shoulder, and, 

 at a signal, springing from the right 

 foot and straightening the left leg. 



Nine out of ten women, after mount- 



