GENERAL RULES. 17 



in the saddle ; let go the mane, put the right foot into 

 the stirrup, and take the right suaffie-rein in the right 

 hand. 



While mounting, the horse should stand quietly, without 

 being held by a groom. If he will not do so — when passing 

 the reins through the fingers of the left hand just before 

 mounting — draw the right snafiie-rein tightly, and so that 

 the horse's head will be drawn around as much as may be 

 necessary ; this will prevent his moving forward, while the 

 inclination to turn around to the right will be hindered by 

 your position, both before and while mounting. 



POSITION IN THE SADDLE. 



Sit well down in the saddle, with the stirrups as long as 

 possible without losing the hold or grip of the horse with 

 the legs. Keep the legs close to the horse's sides, grasping 

 the saddle firmly with the thighs and knees, while the legs 

 below the knees should hang straight up and down. Sit 

 erect, with chest thrown out and shoulders back, elbows 

 close to your sides and hands low. The feet should be paral- 

 lel with the horse's sides and the heels down ; the toes should 

 never point outward, except when in the act of spurring the 

 horse. 



While the legs must always retain their position during 

 any movements of the horse, the body should freely move 

 back and forth to retain its perpendicular position. 



The wrists should be flexible, and control of the reins 

 should be restricted to movements of the hands and the fore- 

 arms, the elbows being held immovably, but not stiffly, to 

 the sides. 



A concise and easily-remembered rule for the rider;, in 

 reference to the seat in the saddle, is contained in the follow- 

 ing old verse : 



" Your head and your heart keep boldly up. 

 Your hands and your heels keep down ; 

 Your knees keep close to your horse's sides. 

 Your elbows keep close to your own." 

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