t 



How to Mount a Colt. 73 



against the horse, and your toe out, so as not 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, taking hold of a portion 

 of the mane and reins, as they hang loosely over the 

 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. Re- 

 peat this several times, each time raising yourself a lit- 

 tle 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 frighten a young horse who^as 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 position, but if you get down 

 on your hands and knees and crawl towards him, he 

 will be very much frightened; and upon the same 

 principle, he would frighten at your new position if you 

 had the power to hold yourself over his back without 

 touching him. Then, the first great advantage of the 

 block is to gradually gentle him to that new position 

 in which he will see you when you ride him. 



Secondly, by the process of leaning your weight in 

 the stirrups, and on your hand, you can gradually ac- 

 custom him to your weight, so as not to frighten him 

 by having him feel it all at once. And, in the third 

 place, the block elevates you so that you will not have 

 to make a spring in order to get on the horse's back, 

 but from it you can gradually raise yourself into the 



