4 LEARNING TO MOUNT. 



shoulder of your horse, the right foot opposite the stirrup, 

 then take hold of the stirrup leather, just above the stir- 

 rup with the right hand, place the left foot in the stirrup 

 as far as the ball of the foot, now take your right hand 

 away from the leather, and take hold of the cantle of the 

 saddle, spring up from the right foot, straighten both 

 knees and keep the heels together, press the left knee well 

 against the saddle before passing the right leg over. Care 

 should be taken to keep the left foot back when mounting, 

 so as not to touch the horse with the toe. 



The pupil must sit well in the middle of the saddle, 

 with the body upright, shoulders thrown back and chest 

 expanded and the head raised, the elbows close to the 

 sides, the hands from four to six inches apart, the knuck- 

 les turned out and the thumbs on the top, hands, knees 

 and heels kept down, and the toes parallel with the horse's 

 sides. After getting seated correctly, take the stirrups by 

 turning the stirrups outwards, away from the horse's sides, 

 the left stirrup to the left and the right to the right, the 

 rider w^ill then have the leather flat and smooth, without 

 any twist in it. 



The other method of mounting is to take all the reins 

 in the right hand, the snaffle reins on the outside and the 

 curb reins on the inside, that is, a rein for every finger, 

 the rider must stand facing the saddle, then turn half left 

 and place the right hand on the pommel of the saddle, 

 carry the left hand nine inches in advance of the right, 

 taking a firm hold of the mane, place the left foot in the 



