MOUNTED. 41 



LESSON VIII. 

 MOUNTED. 



To Advance at Touch of Heel and Stop at Touch of 

 Whip on Back. — Your horse's education must now be 

 carried on from the saddle, and should he never have 

 been ridden, it will be prudent to have a man mount 

 him first upon a man's saddle, and afterwards upon your 

 side-saddle, with a blanket wrapped around the legs to 

 simulate a skirt. If the previous lessons have been care- 

 fully given, you will have no trouble in making him 

 stand wherever you please while you mount, nor in get- 

 ting him " light in hand " afterwards. First, however, see 

 that the saddle fits snugly in its place, and that the girths 

 are good and in order. If there are more than two, let 

 the third be loose while the others are tight. The writer 

 once saw a powerful horse burst two good English girths 

 by a sudden bound and throw off his rider, saddle and 

 all. If the girths and saddle are not very strong, put a 

 broad, thin strap — a surcingle will do — over all. 



Being mounted, gather the reins all into the left hand 

 in the following manner: Draw the right snaffle-rein 

 between the fore and middle fingers, and the left snaf- 



