226 HORSEMANSHIP FOR WAR 



they began to teach, wrought with fanatical 

 zeal to compel straight-leg riding on a bent- 

 leg saddle, and so got a magnificent tally of 

 ruptures and sore tails. In 1805 Prussian 

 instructors were brought to England to enforce 

 the straight-leg seat on the bent-leg saddle. It 

 is only in the twentieth century that this 

 wonderful kidney-crusher military seat has 

 been mercifully abandoned. The army has 

 adopted the hunting seat, and one reads the 

 last word in Major Birch's book on " Modern 

 Riding." 



" The rough-riders from the Royal Artillery 

 Riding Establishment, using the hunting seat, 

 sat perfectly without either reins or stirrups 

 over a five-foot six-inch rail — one horse jump- 

 ing six feet — besides other formidable obstacles, 

 which proves that no better seat could be 

 wanted for practical work." 



The practical work, one notes, for a 

 civihzed Army, is jumping ! 



What is the horse to be used for ? Pleasure ? 



By all means let the high-strung, highly-fed, 

 massaged, hospital-bred, courageous, and 

 powerful but exceedingly delicate blooded horse 

 be used for pleasure, and for pleasure only. 

 One does not use a racing yacht for cruising, 

 because she is too fragile, or for cargo because 



