THE-:- HORSE 



Continuing to hold the saddle and saddle 

 blanket in this way, move them forward to- 

 ward the horse's neck, and then with the 

 right hand taking the cantle-flap and saddle 

 blanket immediately under it, pull the blanket 

 and saddle toward the tail of the horse until 

 the proper place is reached on the horse's back. 

 This leaves the saddle sitting with its fore- 

 part over the animal's withers. 



Cinch the horse carefully, being sure that 

 the cinch and strap are not turned, and pull 

 the cinch tight enough so that the saddle can- 

 not be moved easily to either side. A very 

 loose cinch is likely to chafe the horse's girth, 

 and a very tight cinch may cause a swelling 

 and probably impede his action. 



Mounting. To mount, stand facing the 

 horse at a point about a foot away and oppo- 

 site his near shoulder. Take the reins in the 

 left hand so that the length of the right and 

 left reins, respectively, are the same from the 

 bit to the hand. Place the hand, holding the 

 reins, on the neck of the horse, immediately 

 above the withers, and draw the lines through 

 the fingers so that a slight feel of the horse's 

 mouth may be maintained. Take the left 

 stirrup in the right hand and pull it forward 

 until it almost touches the horse's foreleg. The 

 rider should partially turn his left shoulder 

 toward the horse and place the toe of his left 

 boot into the stirrup, then releasing the stirrup 



15 



