222 



MOUNTED BREAKING. 



an assistant, while standing on, say, the near side, to catch 

 hold of the mane about half way up the crest with his left 

 hand, the stirrup-iron with his right hand, and go through 

 the various stages of mounting, beginning with putting his 

 left foot in the stirrup (see Fig. 102), catching the pommel 

 or cantle of the saddle, as he sees fit, with the right hand, 

 and hopping round on the right foot, while we keep the 

 horse revolving by means of the leading rein. I may 



Fie. 102. — Mounting horse for first time. 



explain that the Australian rough-riders, who are mar- 

 vellously expert at getting up on difficult horses, place the 

 right hand on the pommel of the saddle, and not on the 

 cantle, as is usually the practice in England and Ireland, 

 and consequently put the left hand high up on the neck, 

 and thereby keep their hands well separated, so as to 

 preserve their balance when mounting. When the horse 



