MOUNT, DISMOUNT, AND VAULT 



both to hold a regular canter and to stop at the 

 instructor's order. It should have on its back a 

 strong surcingle, with two iron handles, directed 

 forward, not back, and set eight inches below the 

 top of the withers. This must be so firmly fastened 

 in place that it cannot move even if the entire 

 weight of the man bears on one side. The horse is 

 reined from the cavesson with a snaffle to the 

 surcingle. 



The beginner is first practiced in springing from 

 the ground when the horse is standing still. For 

 this movement, the pupil stands behind the horse's 

 left shoulder, his right hand grasping the left handle 

 of the surcingle and his left a tuft of hair of the 

 mane, the feet near together and the body straight. 

 He then counts to himself, one, two, three, bending 

 his knees sharply at each count. With the third 

 count, he springs upward, helping himself with his 

 hands, until he holds his body straight, supported 

 on his arms. Then, keeping the left leg immobile, 

 he swings the extended right leg over the croup and 

 seats himself on the horse's back. Meanwhile, the 

 right and left hands have shifted to the handles on 

 their respective sides. 



As soon as the pupil vaults easily to the back of 

 the standing horse, he may execute the same move- 

 ment with the horse walking and trotting. 



To vault upon a horse at a canter, the pupil takes 

 the right handle of the surcingle with his right hand, 

 the nails below, and the left handle with the left 



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