848 THE HOKSE. 



died. The instructor must take two pupils ; of whom one shall 

 hold the horse by the bridle, and observe what the other does, 

 in order that he may be able to perform in his turn. The pupil 

 shall approach the horse's shoulder and prepare to mount ; for 

 this purpose he is toiay hold of, and separate with the right 

 hand, a handful of mane, and pass it into tlie left hand, 

 taking hold as nenr the roots as possible, without twisting them ; 

 he must then grasp the pommel of the saddle with the right 

 hand, the four fingers inside, and the thumb outside ; when 

 springing lightly, he will raise himself upon his wrists. As soon 

 as his middle reaches the height of the horse's withers, he must 

 pass the right leg over the croup, without touching it, and place 

 himself liglitly in the saddle. This vaulting will tend to render 

 the man active ; and he should be ir.ade to repeat it eight or ten 

 times, before letting him finally scat himself. The repetition 

 of this exercise will soon teach him the use of his arms and 

 loins. 



For the stationary exercise on horseback, an old, quiet 

 horse sliould be chosen in preference ; the reins to be knotted, 

 and to hang on his neck. The pupil being on horseback, the 

 instructor will examine his natural position, in order to exercise 

 more frequently those parts which have a tendency either to 

 weakness O]* rigidity. The lesson will commence with the chest. 

 He must expand the chest, and hold himself in this position for 

 some time, without regard to the stiffness which it will occasion 

 at first. It is by the exertion of force that the pupil will obtain 

 suppleness and flexibility, and not by the relaxation of his natu- 

 ral powers so much and so uselessly recommended. Motions at 

 first produced only by great effort, will not require so much ex- 

 ertion after a while, for the pupil will then have gained skill, 

 and skill, in this case, is but the result of exertions properly 

 combined and employed. What is first done by the exertion 

 of a force equal to twenty pounds is afterward eftected by an 

 effort gradually diminishing. When it is reduced to the last, 

 we may say that skill is attained. If we commence by a smaller 

 effort, we cannot attain this result. The flexions of the loins 

 must be repeated, allowing the pupil often to let himself down 

 into his natural relaxed position, in order to accustom liim to 

 throw his chest quickly into a good position. The body being 



