26 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



If, during the lesson, the horse backs or moves away, 

 the trooper returns to the animars head, leads him up a 

 step or two with the snaffle reins, and gently begins the 

 lesson anew. 



After seating himself in the saddle, the trooper should 

 use his right hand to assist in engaging the off stirrup. 

 By feeling for the stirrup with the toe there is danger of 

 frightening the horse by touching him unintentionally 

 with the leg or stirrup. 



Restless animals. — ^The assistants should stand squarely 

 in front of the horses and not on the off side. Their busi- 

 ness is to simply caress the animal's head without holding 

 the reins. 



With horses that are hard to mount, the cavesson 

 should be used, the longe held by an experienced and 

 skillful man. 



Mounting lessons should be given on the off side as 

 well as on the near side and should be repeated daily until 

 the horse stands absolutely quiet. The (individual) les- 

 son, however, should not be prolonged, for the horse will 

 have greater tendency to become restless the more he is 

 held in one place. 



