When a horse’s head is steady, when he is light in hand, can obey its motions with ease, and stop readily, the bit is properly adjusted. On the contrary, if he open his mouth as if gagged, writhe his jaws, draw his tongue above the mouth-piece, or thrust it out sidewise; if he fear the impression of the bit, have no appuy, toss his head up and down, carry it low, and endeavour to force the hand, or refuse to go forward, or run backward, the bit is not properly adjusted. 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. [Illustration: _PLATE XXXVI_ _Page 127._ 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.