RIDING AND TRAINING. 7 



ground, when the left foot will be withdrawn from 

 the stirrup, and, after he is assured of his footing, the 

 holds upon the mane and pommel released. 



But a rider of ordinary strength and agility should 

 not require the stirrup in mounting or dismounting. 

 To mount without stirrups 1 the rider should stand 

 facing the near shoulder of the horse : with the left 

 hand he will seize a lock of the mane, half way 

 between the withers and the ears; and with the 

 right hand, in which are held the reins, he will 

 grasp the pommel, the thumb under the bow, the 

 fingers extended toward the ground on the far side ; 

 springing from both feet he will take his weight 

 upon the straightened arms, and from this position 

 he will carry his right leg over the back of the horse, 

 and sink gently into the saddle. When the seat is 

 secured, the holds upon mane and pommel will be 

 released. In this manner he may mount the most 

 restless animal, for after he has taken the grasp upon 

 the mane and the pommel the horse cannot prevent 

 him reaching the saddle ; and it is easier to mount 

 the horse, by taking advantage of its motions, when 

 in action than from a halt. In mounting the 

 moving horse in this manner, the rider should be 

 careful not to spring with too much vigour or to 

 throw his body too much over the horse, as the 



1 See the two figures of Mounting without Stirrups. 



