19^ MODERN FAREIEU. 



tion throws the breech backward, and you off yoiif 

 fork or twist, and out of your seat; whereas, the 

 advancing the lower part of your body, and bending 

 back the upper part and shoulders, is ,the metliod 

 both to keep your seat, and to recover it when lost. 

 The bending your body back, and that in a great 

 degree, is the greatest security in flying leaps ; it is 

 a security too when your horse leaps standing. The 

 horse's rising does not try the rider's seat ; the lash 

 of his hind legs is what ought chiefly to be guarded 

 against, and is best done by the body's being greatly 

 inclined back. Stiffen not your legs or thighs ; and 

 let your body be pliable in the loins, like the coach- 

 man's on his box. This loose manner of sitting will 

 elude every rough motion of the horse; whereas 

 the fixture of the knees, so commonly laid a stress 

 on, will in great shocks conduce to the violence of 

 the fall. 



Was the cricket-player, when the ball is struck 

 with the greatest velocity, to hold his hand firm and 

 fixed when he receives it, the hand would be bruised, 

 or perhaps the bones fractured by the resistance. 

 To obviate this accident, he therefore gradually 

 yields his hand to the motion of the ball for a cer- 

 tain distance ; and thus by a due mixture of oppo- 

 sition and obedience, catches it without sustaining 

 the least injury. The case is exactly the same in 

 riding : the skilful horseman will recover his poise 

 by giving some way to the motion ; and the igno- 

 rant horseman will be flung out of his seat by en- 

 deavouring to be fixed. 



Stretch not out your legs before you ; this wdll 

 push you against the back of the saddle ; neither 

 gather up your knees like a man riding on a pack ; 

 this throws your thighs upwards : each practice un- 

 seats you. Keep your legs straight down : and sit 

 not on the most fleshy part of the thighs, but turn 

 them invv^ards, so as to bring in your knees and toes : 

 and it is more safe to ride with the ball of the foot 



