Home › The Horse › The Horse: Hands

The Horse: Hands

Miscellaneous Exercises.--Hands on pommels, spring up and put the right leg through the arms, letting the left hang straight. Withdraw the right leg, and spring up again, using the left leg, and letting the right hang down. Hands on pommels, spring up, and seat yourself like a lady behind the saddle; spring down to the ground, and seat yourself in a similar manner before the saddle.

Hands on pommels, spring up, cross your feet, pass them through the hands, and come to the ground on the opposite side.

Take a short run, place the hands on the pommels, and vault completely over the horse, keeping the knees straight.

Sit behind the saddle, put both hands on the hind pommel, and throw yourself off over the horse's tail.

Hands on pommels, spring up, make the body into an L, let the feet pass through the hands and rest suspended without touching the saddle. Knees quite straight.

A good one for a finish.--Take a run, put both hands on the very top of the pommels, and throw yourself over in a regular somerset. That is not bad, but you can do better after the somerset has been well learned. Throw the somerset as before, only do not let go the hands. You will now be standing with your back to the horse, the spine considerably bent, and your arms thrown over your head. Wait so for a few seconds, and then with a powerful effort throw yourself back again, so as to come on the ground on the same side of the horse from which you started. This is really difficult, as it requires practice, strength, and confidence, but it looks so well that it is worth learning. The writer of these few instructions has often astonished the natives with it, and has lately repeated it after two years' absence from any gymnasium.