HORSEMANSHIP. 



should try to ride by balance, and not by grip, for if 

 a continued effort be demanded of any set of muscles, 

 they will, after a while, lose their wonted power, and be 

 unable to act at, perhaps, the very moment their aid is 

 required to save the rider from an accident. As soon 

 as he feels somewhat " at home " in the saddle with 

 stirrups, he should try to do without them, until he 

 is able to ride perfectly well in this manner. He 

 should, at first, take them up for only a short time, 

 but should lengthen the periods as he improves, until 

 he can ride in perfect safety and comfort, without the 

 aid of the stirrups. Having acquired the necessary 

 proficiency, there will be no object in his practising any 

 longer in this way. The respective seats and styles of 

 riding, with and without stirrups, differ so much, one 

 from the other, that a man should thoroughly accustom 

 himself only to the method (that with stirrups) he will 

 habitually use. He should never, if he can help it, 

 continue riding after he has become tired, for he will 

 then be unable to maintain a proper seat, and will be 

 apt to acquire a slovenly style. " The advantage 

 of this mode of instruction [riding without stirrups] 

 is, that it teaches, or, in fact obliges, a boy to 

 balance his body, and sit still and firm in his seat, 



