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.
[Illustration: _PLATE XXXVI_
_Page 127._
Second View of Mounting.