MAKING A HORSE QUIET TO MOUNT. 69 



And as he gets a bit slack from trotting, the girths do not 

 inconvenience him when I mount. I always carry out this 

 procedure when mounting a difficult horse for the first 

 time. 



Grooms are in the habit of girthing up their horses very 

 tightly, and it would be contrary to a knowledge of the weak- 

 nesses of human nature to think that they would give up this 

 practice on the very day when I try to succeed at what they 

 have failed to do. On that day they girth up more tightly 

 than ever. They know that the tighter a horse is girthed up 

 the more he will plunge, and therefore they feel certain that 

 they will presently have the innocent pleasure of seeing me 

 chucked over the ears of the horse. Nevertheless I encourage 

 them to girth up more tightly, and after they have squeezed 

 him as tightly as they can I take him by the bridle, walk him 

 about for a few minutes, and the moment before putting my 

 foot in the stirrup I let out the girths one or two holes. I am 

 then in the saddle, and the animal gives a great sigh of 

 relief, which for the moment prevents him from thinking of 

 playing up. 



I never allow my horses to be held when mounting them. 

 All horses become quiet if not held, and they will gain confi- 

 dence if we mount and dismount several times consecutively, 

 while patting them on the neck. We ought to mount as 

 quietly and lightly as possible. Above all things, we ought 

 to avoid bustling the horse when starting ; because, if he 

 expects we are going to do this, he will never stand quietly 

 to be mounted. 



I never require anything from the horse which I mount for 

 the first time. I am content if he walks straight on. I keep 

 the reins separated, I feel only those of the snaffle, and I 

 never touch the horse with the spurs for the first few lessons. 

 I ride him a few times round the school to the right and to 

 the left, while leaving him as free as possible, supposing, of 



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