INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 9 



The next section comprises those who are indifferent 

 to appearances, and merely desire to ride safely and 

 comfortably. As regards the latter point, we may refer 

 them to what has been just said ; and as to the matter 

 of safety, this will be perhaps better attained by some 

 knowledge of where the danger lies, and how it may 

 be avoided, than by a practical experience of it in the 

 shape of a fall. 



Others again, although they never followed a hound, 

 nor are likely to do so, adopt what they believe to 

 be " a hunting seat" merely because it is a prominent 

 type, and therefore caught their eye more readily than 

 the chaos that presented itself in all other directions. 

 Many of them would doubtless adopt with equal readi- 

 ness some other form that promised equal or greater 

 security and convenience, especially if they should 

 happen to discover, by the aid of a looking-glass, that 

 their copy is somewhat too much of a caricature. 



The aim of this little treatise is therefore, by appeal- 

 ing to the intelligence, common sense, and good feeling 

 of afl riding men, to enable each to discover for him- 

 self what best suits his own peculiar case, and will put 

 him in a position to make the best and the most of 

 every horse he may have to ride, in the safest manner, 

 so far at least as the matters herein treated are con- 

 cerned. The intention is to refrain from all dogmatism 

 and authoritative assertions, and merely present gen- 

 eral principles, derived from mechanical laws that admit 

 of no controversy, showing their inevitable bearing on 

 the most important points, and leaving the reader as 

 much as possible to form his own judgment independ- 

 ently, and arrive at a practical application for him- 

 self. The work is therefore not intended to represent a 



