64 PINK AND SCARLET 



the length cannot with certainty be fixed to a hole 

 before getting up, the end of the leather should 

 never be tucked into the buckle, but should be left 

 out as shown in Fig. i, Plate XL If it is like 

 this the rider can easily shorten or lengthen his 

 stirrup as he moves off. 



All is now ready, and the question of " Who is 

 going to be master " will very soon be decided. 

 On this depends certainly the rider's comfort and 

 safety, and probably whether his ride is a pleasure 

 or not. 



In tactics it is better to lay down the law than 

 to allow it to be dictated to us ; it is the same with 

 a horse. Therefore take the initiative and approach 

 boldly. It is by no means a bad thing when going 

 to get on to a strange horse for the first time, to 

 give the middle of the saddle three or four good 

 hard bangs with the fiat of your hand. If the 

 horse has a tendency to buck directly any one gets 

 on him this may prevent his doing so, perhaps 

 because it is not then the weight of your body which 

 first presses a maybe cold saddle down on to his 

 back. Be this as it may, if you see this performance 

 gone through by a seller before the intending pur- 

 chaser gets on, you may safely bet that the horse 

 is, to say the least of it, a little uncertain in his 

 manners until his "back is down." 



In getting up do not think too much about the 

 correct riding-school way of doing it, but get hold 

 of the reins and swing up boldly. When up do 

 not, oh ! do not at once grasp and draw up the reins 



