'i6g 



CHAPTER VII. 

 MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



Before Mounting— Mounting witli Stirrups— Mounting with Stirrups in Military 

 Style —Mounting without Stirrups — Getting a Leg Up— Mounting during 

 Movement — Dismounting when Halted — Dismounting with Stirrups in Military 

 Style. 



BEFORE MOUNTING. 



It is desirable for the rider, unless he has saddled and 

 bridled the horse himself, to see that these operations have 

 been carried out correctly ; and that the stirrups are of the 

 proper length. 



After a little practice, the rider will be able to get the 

 approximate length of his stirrups before mounting, by mea- 

 suring- them with his arm. This will be about the distance of 

 the tips of the fingers to the arm-pit, when the arm is held 

 straight (Fig. 170). The shape of the horse or saddle may 

 cause this length to vary a hole or two, one way or the other. 



MOUNTING WITH STIRRUPS. 

 I. As a rule, if the man and horse be of proportionate 

 height, it is best for the former to stand a little to the left 

 front of the near shoulder of the latter, take up the reins with 

 the left hand, and lay hold of the mane with it, about half way 

 up the neck. He takes the stirrup in the right hand, at 

 the part where the leather goes through the eye of the 

 iron, places the left foot in the stirrup, and puts the right 

 hand well over on the off side of the cantle (Fig. 171), so that 

 he may not disarrange the position of the saddle when mount- 



