RIDING WITHOUT STIRRUPS. 7 



and not by grip ; for, if a continued effort be demanded of 

 any set of muscles, they will soon lose their power and 

 will 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 for short periods of time, 

 which he should gradually lengthen as he improves in his 

 seat, until he can ride in safety and comfort without stirrups. 

 Having acquired the necessary proficiency, there will be no 

 object in his practising further in that way. The respective 

 seats and styles of riding with and without stirrups, differ 

 so much from one another, that a man should thoroughly 

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

 will habitually employ. The great advantage of practising 

 to ride without stirrups is, that it teaches one to " get well 

 down in the saddle," to lean back, and to ride by balance. 



The beginner 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. 



If a man has to ride in a light saddle, he should practise 

 in one ; for however firm he may be in a ten or twelve 

 pounds saddle, he will, as a rule, feel more or less uncomfort- 

 able and insecure in a racing or light steeplechase one, unless 

 he is accustomed to it. 



A beginner, when he feels insecure in the saddle, has often 

 a strong tendency to steady himself by catching hold of the 

 pommel, or even of the mane. If he requires some adven- 

 titious aid, he may be excused for putting a hand back and 

 catching hold of the cantle of the saddle ; for by so doing 

 he will be enabled to check the forward movement of his 

 body, which is manifestly the cause of the large majority 

 of falls. If, however, he grasps the pommel or the mane, 

 the fact of his doing so will cause the weight of his body to 



