8o RACE RIDING. 



which will throw the weight back towards the loins, and 

 will cause the body to bump up and down, on account 

 of the arms being necessarily rigid. But as the saddle 

 cannot shift in the same manner as the stirrups are 

 liable to do, a firm grip of the legs will enable the hands, 

 arms and body to " give and take " with the movements 

 of the head and neck, as the horse moves forward at 

 each stride. The more the animal pulls, the closer 

 should the elbows be brought to the sides ; while, to 

 gain more power, the knuckles may be turned down, and 

 the palms of the hands up. When standing in the 

 stirrups, the insides of the knees are the parts of the legs 

 which are principally occupied In pressing against the 

 flaps of the saddle. 



In five-furlong races, when it is a case of "jumping 

 off with the lead and coming along all the way through," 

 jockeys frequently adopt a seat which is a sort of com- 

 promise between standing in the stirrups and finishing. 

 The knees are then more bent, the seat is closer to the 

 saddle, and the hands are kept higher than in the former 

 position, while the feet and body are not drawn back 

 as much as they are in the latter. 



Manner of Holding the Reins. — The reins should be 

 held crossed (as described in Chapter I.) in both hands, 



