MOUNTED INSTRL'CTION 109 



The thighs, on the other haiul, should remain fixed immovably to 

 the saddle, except while posting- at the trot. This fixity should be ob- 

 tained not by the pressure of the knees but by the clinging of the but- 

 tocks, which are secured by the suppleness of the loins, and the relaxa- 

 tion of the thights. It is ac(juired very ra])idly by daily ''rotation of 

 thig'lis," which gradually presses the large thigh muscles to the rear 

 and permits the femur to rest solidly against the saddle. 



The rider should sit with his buttocks well under the ui)per j^art of 

 his body, and especially avoid bowing the back by thrusting the but- 

 tocks to the rear and the lower part of the spine to the front. Sitting 

 well forward in the middle of the saddle will tend to assist the rider 

 in avoiding the defect just referred to. If the buttocks are thrust back 

 too much, the rider can not conform to the movements of the horse 

 and carries forward the upper part of his body. 



If the thigh is too nearly horizontal, the rider is doubled u]) and his 

 power of action diminished ; if the thigh is too nearly vertical, the 

 rider is on the crotch and lacks ease. 



To sum up: The rider should take a relaxed sitting" position, 

 squarely on his buttocks, with the thighs inclined downward. 



The various defects of positions are overcome by suitable sui)])ling 

 exercises. 



The aids: The legs, the reins, and the weight are the means of con- 

 trolling" the horse in riding. They are called aids. 



The legs: The legs serve to urge the horse forward to increase his 

 pace or gait, and to engage the hind quarters or move them laterally. 

 The legs act by the pressure of the calves. If pressure alone is in- 

 sufficient the rider increases the action by blows with his calves. 



It is essential to obtain from the horse perfect obedience to the 

 action of the legs. He should respond to the simultaneous and equal 

 action of both legs by engaging his hindquarters and moving forward ; 

 to the predominant action of one leg by moving his haunches to the 

 opposite side. 



The reins : The reins serve to prepare the horse to move, to decrease 

 or increase his pace, to change the gait, or to change direction. 



Contact is a light bearing of the mouth of the horse on the hand of 

 the rider. It should be constantly maintained. 



The reins are held in the full hand, the thumb i^ressing them lightly 

 upon the second joint of the forefinger. l^)y means of closing and 

 relaxing the finger and flexing the wrist, arm, and shoulder the rider 

 while maintaining contact and keei)ing the reins taut, follows easily the 

 movements of the head of the horse without anticipating or interfering 

 with these movements. The hand is then said to be passive. It is kent 

 so as long as the rider is not required to change the pace, gait or di- 

 rection. 



The direct rein: \\'hen the rider, with the hands senarated and the 

 reins adjusted, closes his fingers upon the reins without raising the 

 hands he exercises an action from front to rear, called the effect of the 



