THE-:- HORSE 



point with his left hand. Holding, also in 

 his left hand, the left rein at its starting 

 point from the bit, and the left cheek piece 

 of the head stall as it starts from the bit, he 

 should take the left stirrup in his right hand. 

 Taking care not to let more than the tip of 

 his boot pass through, he should place his 

 left foot in the stirrup, and raise his weight 

 on to the stirrup, keeping his left arm taut, 

 which is holding the horse at a point near 

 the bit. ' 



If the horse tries to whirl away from the 

 rider in this position, the grip of the left 

 hand on the cheek piece may be brought to 

 bear with such force that it will keep the 

 horse's head toward the man, who at this 

 time is balanced standing on the left stirrup. 

 If, on the other hand, the horse turns to the 

 near side to grip the man's arm or leg with 

 his teeth, the knuckles of the left hand are 

 shoved under the cheek piece into the jaw 

 of the horse, which in this way can be kept 

 at a safe distance. 



If the horse now rears, tries to fall over 

 backward, bucks, or looks like turning a 

 forward somersault, the rider should leap off 

 his left foot several feet back from the near 

 side of the horse into safety, and when the 

 horse has subsided he must try the same 

 manuevers again. Then, if the horse stands 

 sufficiently quiet, the rider may slowly raise 



83 



