LEARNING TO MOUNT. 7 



stirrup, spring up lightly in the saddle, and after you are 

 seated firmly, change the reins from the right hand to the 

 left 



Naturally, the ways I have described, are very hard 

 for a beginner at first, but they should be practiced a 

 great deal after riding a few times. Of course at first the 

 teacher should allow you a little more length and reach, 

 especially if one is very stout, or at all stiff, which begin- 

 ners generally are at first, but plenty of practice will 

 knock all the stiffness out of a man, if he keeps right al it, 

 as he should do. The first method 1 described to you, 

 with regard to mounting, is called the English way, and 

 so it is, if done correctly, but most horsemen stand in 

 front of the horse's shoulder, instead of nearly back of it, 

 and as the man's arm is not long enough to reach the 

 saddle, consequently he has to hop on the right foot, near 

 enough to the horse to reach his saddle, it is not only an 

 extra exertion on his part, but it annoys the horse and 

 causes him to become restless and unsteady while mount- 

 ing. The second way of mounting a horse is called the 

 military or French way, and is taught a great deal in the 

 United States, and for some reasons I prefer it to the other 

 way, but one must be careful not to stand too far back, 

 for fear that the horse might at some time strike the rider 

 in the back from behind. Some horses are very restless 

 to mount, and commence pawing with their front legs 

 with impatience to be off, and sometimes from nervous- 

 ness or fright, and that is one more good reason why the 



