HORSEMANSHIP FOB GENTLEMEN. 291 



The pupil will stand as directed in mounting in the 

 "blanket order." He will take the middle of the 

 snaffle-rein in the ball of his left hand, letting it hang 

 loosely, and without bearing, on the horse's mouth. The 

 object being now to teach the pupil to ride with a light 

 and steady hand, for which the snaffle-riding with both 

 hands has partly prepared him, he will take up the 

 curb-rein with his right hand, carefully drawing it up 

 until he very lightly and equally feels the horse's 

 mouth ; and in place of taking a lock of the mane he 

 will place his bridle-hand on the curb-rein, by passing 

 the little finger through them and bringing the spare 

 part through the hand and over the fore-finger. The 

 bridle-hand may now be placed on the pommel of the 

 saddle, and his right hand firmly on the cantle (hind 

 part), and standing with both feet together, he will, by 

 making a purchase of the saddle, spring up and bring 

 his knees to bear against the saddle-skirts, and dwelling 

 there a moment to steady himself, quit the hold on the 

 cantle and quietly place his right leg over the saddle. 

 The bridle-hand will then quit the pommel, and the 

 reins being properly placed before mounting, all the 

 pupil will have to do is to place the hand in the samo 

 position as it occupied in snaffle-riding. The right hand 

 must hang carelessly down from, the shoulder, and the 

 body will be placed in the saddle as on the rug, and in 

 the same position as destined for stirrup -riding. 



The horse being now ridden solely on the curb rein, 



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