226 HORSEMANSHIP. 



left side, over against his shoulder, inclining some- 

 thing more to his head than to his flank. In the 

 summer time, when the flies are troublesome, this 

 caution is not ill bestowed, because the quietest 

 horses will sometimes strike out, sidewards, after 

 the manner of cows, to rid themselves of their tor- 

 mentors ; and many a man has been injured in the 

 abdomen, or thigh, from this cause. Old writers 

 on horsemanship recommend the horseman, when 

 about to place himself in the saddle, after having 

 put the left foot firmly into the stirrup, to take the 

 reins and the pummel of the saddle in his left 

 hand, and laying his right hand fast upon the hin- 

 der pai-t of the saddle, thus to spring into his seat. 



We should prefer his taking a lock of the mane, 

 together with the reins, into the left hand ; be- 

 cause, if he be a man of any considerable weight, his 

 having recourse to the saddle for all the assistance 

 he may require, would be very likely to displace it, 



