MOtJ^^TED INSTRUCTION 223 



must be in contact. Gatherinjif the horse and the aids all start with the 

 calf. Contact can only be obtained by the "lower leg" being slightly 

 in rear of the vertical. To obtain this contact, the rider should turn 

 the toe and knee out until he has obtained the same. There should be 

 no constraint to these movements. Normally the rider's foot will 

 turn out about the same amount as it does when he walks. If the 

 rider takes this position of his lower leg, the stirrup strap will be 

 vertical. 



A general rule which will assist the rider to tell when his lower 

 leg is correctly placed is: The point of the toe should be obscured by 

 the knee cap (assuming that the rider's seat is correct). 



We have now worked from the rider's seat to his heels ; now we will 

 work from seat up. 



The "seat," as taught, is a combination of "grip and balance." The 

 grip elements have already been discussed, "balance" remains. 



Let us consider a straight stifif rod, and a strung bow (bow such as 

 used with bow and arrow). Suppose we take the stiff rod, and placing 

 our hand on the top of it, strike the ground. There is no give to the rod 

 and all of the force is taken up on the hand. Now take the bow and 

 do the same. Part of the force is taken up by the bow bending, and 

 part on the hand, the more supple the bow, the less force on the hand. 

 So it is with a stiff and supple back. The first pounds the horse, the 

 second "pats," the rest of the "pound" being taken up in the supple 

 back. 



Here begins one of the hardest things to teach recruits. The back 

 must be supple and the bow in the back must be in the lower part, 

 namely, where the belt crosses the spinal column. The rest of the back 

 is supple, but is erect. One way of explaining to the recruit, is to tell 

 him, "Let your stomach say 'How do you do' to your backbone." 



"Suppling exercises," such as patting the horse on the right shoulder, 

 etc., increase suppleness, and will be taken up in instructions on the 

 schedule. 



Remember the supple back "pats" the horse, the stiff "pounds." The 

 next to consider is the "hands." How should the hands be carried? 

 Answer: Stiff shoulders and arms make the rider jerk his horse on the 

 mouth at each step of the trot. If the hands (reins in both hands) are 

 held low, forearm inclined slightly dowmward, backs of hands out, 

 hands separated about six inches, the rider has the right start. A light 

 "feel" of the horse's mouth, but giving to the motion of the head, will 

 insure the rest. The rider w^ith hands in the above position is ready 

 to "give and take." The "upper arm" is held without stiffness, close to 

 the body, and is slightly in front of the vertical. 



The head is held erect, but without stiffness. 



The following sum up what to look for in locating faults of the rider. 



(1) Is the thigh well let down? 



(2) Is the "lower leg" back? 



(3) Is the heel depressed, ankle supple? 



