24 RAREY ON HORSE-TAMING. 



were to step up suddenly on the block, it would be 

 very apt to scare him ; but by raising yourself gi-a- 

 dually on it, he will see you, A\qthout being fright- 

 ened, in a position very near the same as when yon 

 are on his back. As soon as he will bear this with- 

 out alarm, untie the stin-up strap next to you, and 

 put your left foot in the stirrup, and stand square 

 over it, holding your knee against the horse, and 

 your toe out, so as to touch him under the fore- 

 shoulder with the toe of your boot. Place your 

 right hand on the front of the saddle, and on the 

 opposite side of you, taking hold of a portion of 

 the mane and reins (they hang ■ loosely over his 

 neck), with your left hand, then gradually bear your 

 weight on the stirrup, and on your right hand, until 

 the horse feels your whole weight on the stin-up ; 

 repeat this several times, each time raising yourself 

 a little higher from the block, until he will allow you 

 to raise your leg over his croup, and place yourself 

 in the saddle. Another, and in some cases a better 

 way of mounting, is to press the palm of your right 

 hand on the off-side of the saddle, and as you rise 

 lean your weight on it. By this means you can 

 mount Avith the girths loose, or without any girths 

 at all. 



There are three great advantages in having a 

 block to mount from. First, a sudden change of po- 

 sition is very apt to frighten a young horse that has 

 never been handled ; he will allow you to walk to 

 him, and stand by his side without scaring at you, 

 because you have gentled him to that position ; but 



