146 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



so that one is ready to bend and sway loosely and 

 easily upon mounting. 



Ride at a walk, and make your horse stop, back, 

 turn, and stand still at your desire, at any and all 

 times. It is not as amusing as dashing gaily off at 

 a flopping canter at once, but you are learning some- 

 thing one way, and less than nothing the other. 

 Walk " figure eights," and find out how your horse 

 bends and sways, and how you must bend and sway 

 with him. 



When ready to trot, ride without rising for several 

 days, and learn to sit up, to let the horse's mouth 

 alone, and to keep your balance. When ready to 

 rise, or to " post," as it is called, seize the right 

 pommel in the rig'ht hand, the reins in the left, lean 

 a little forward at the waist, let the horse get trot- 

 ting steadily, and then count " one, two, three," etc., 

 each count marking a cadence and rise and fall, 

 where you press on the stirrup and on the pommel 

 with the hand ; rise, and return again. Rising is 

 very easy to learn, and it is only necessary to get the 

 horse's step, and not to try too liard. Let him put 



