MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING.
In mounting, the rider,—presenting himself rather before the horse’s shoulder, with his left breast towards that shoulder, and with his whip or switch in his left hand,—takes, with the right hand, the snaffle reins in the centre;—introduces the little finger of the left hand between them from before, the back of that hand being towards the horse’s head;—places the left hand below the right on the neck of the horse, about twelve inches from the saddle;—draws with the right hand the reins through the left, and shortens them, till the left has a light and equal feeling of both reins on the horse’s mouth;—throws, with the right hand, the reins to the off side;—takes, with the same hand, a lock of the mane, brings it through the left hand, and turns it round the left thumb:—and closes the left hand firmly on the mane and reins.
Plate XXXVI
Second View of Mounting.
The Seat.
The right hand, after quitting the mane, lays hold of the left stirrup, the fingers being behind, and the thumb in front of it;—the left foot is raised and put into the stirrup as far as the ball of it, [Pl XXXV] f 2 the right foot is then moved until the rider’s face is turned to the side of the horse, and looking across the saddle; while the right hand is placed on the cantle, the left knee against the saddle on the surcingle, with the left heel drawn back, to avoid touching the horse’s side with the toe;—by a spring of the right foot from the instep, not by any pull with the right hand, the rider raises himself in the stirrup, the knees firm against the saddle, the heels together, but drawn back a little, and the body erect, and partially supported by the right hand [Pl XXXVI] f 1 the right hand moves from the cantle to the pommel, and supports the body;—the right leg at the same time passes clearly over the horse’s quarters to the off side;—the right knee closes on the saddle; the body comes gently into it;—the left hand quits the mane, and the right the pommel.
The left, or bridle hand, with the wrist rounded outwards, is placed opposite the centre of the body, and at three inches’ distance from it;—the right hand is dropped by the side of the thigh;—the stirrup is taken instantly with the right foot, without the help of hand or eye;—the clothes are adjusted;—and the whip is exchanged from the left hand to the right, being held with the lash upwards, but inclining a little towards the left ear of the horse, and never leaving the right hand, except while mounting or dismounting,—([Plate XXXVI.] f. 2.)
The horse is to be accustomed to stand till the rider request him to move. The habit of unsteadiness is acquired from grooms, who, on going out to water and exercise, throw themselves over a horse from some elevation, and give a kick to the animal even before being fairly upon it. If a groom attend at mounting, he ought not to be suffered to touch the reins, but only that part of the bridle which comes down the cheek.
In dismounting, the whip is to be returned into the left hand;—the right hand takes hold of the rein above the left;—the right foot quits the stirrup;—the left hand slides forward on the rein, to about twelve inches from the saddle, feeling the horse’s mouth very lightly;—the right hand, dropping the reins to the off side, takes a lock of the mane, brings it through the left, and twists it round the left thumb;—the fingers of the left hand close on it;—the right hand is placed on the pommel; the body being kept erect. The body is supported with the right hand and left foot;—the right leg is, without touching the horse’s hind-quarters or the saddle, brought gently to the near side, with the heels close, care being take not to bend the right knee, lest the spur should touch the horse;—the right hand passes at the same time to the cantle, to preserve the balance, as in the act of mounting;—the body is gently lowered until the right toe touches the ground;—resting on the right foot, the left stirrup is quitted, and the left foot placed in line with the horse’s hoofs;—the hands remaining as in the former motion. Both hands then quit their holds of the mane and cantle;—and the right hand lays hold of the snaffle rein near the ring of the bit.
In mounting without stirrups,—after taking up the reins, instead of seizing the mane, the rider lays hold of the pommel and cantle, and, by a spring of both legs from the insteps, raises the body to the centre of the saddle. By a second spring of both arms, the right leg is carried over the horse, and the rider enters his proper seat by closing the knees on the saddle, and sliding gently into it.
In dismounting without stirrups, on either side of the horse, the rider throws the weight of the body on the hands placed on the pommel, and, by a spring, raises the body out of the saddle before the leg is brought over the horse.