ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



CHAPTER IL TO MOUNT. 



THE usual method of mounting is for the rider to 

 stand with his left side opposite the near (or left) 

 shoulder of the horse : with the left hand, in which 

 the whip and reins are held, he seizes a lock of the 

 mane ; raising the left leg, he inserts the foot in the 

 stirrup by the aid of the right hand ; leaving the 

 ground by a spring from the right foot, assisted by 

 the hold of the mane in the left hand, he rises until 

 the left leg is straightened, having seized the cantel 

 of the saddle with the right hand to steady him- 

 self ; withdrawing the right hand he passes the right 

 leg over the back of the horse, and sinks into 

 the seat. 



To my mind there are many objections to this 

 mode of mounting, the principal being, that the left 

 hand, entangled in the mane, cannot use the rein for 

 the purpose of checking the horse ; that the rider, 

 standing at the shoulder of the horse, may be over- 

 turned by a movement of the animal, and perhaps 

 be dragged by the stirrup, or be thrown under the 



