2oo THE SEAT. 



former condition can of course be readily determined and may 

 be assumed as that in which the body and head is held more 

 or less erect in an easy manner. But the latter, owing to the 

 varying nature of the special circumstances in each case, does 

 not admit of exact definition. On referring to Chapter III., we 

 see that the forward motion of the horse consists essentially of 

 propulsion by the hind legs, and raising of the weight by 

 the fore legs, which act in the gallop more or less like the 

 spokes of a wheel without a tire. Although the production 

 of instability of equilibrium (pp. 14 and 16) favours speed, 



Fig. 187. Hunting seat at the gallop. 



it militates against the staying power of the horse and 

 against the soundness of his fore legs by surcharging his 

 fore-hand. 



The seat of the rider should conform to the pace and speed 

 at which the horse is travelling, and should consequently be 

 varied according to circumstances. Mr. Oswald Brown has 

 endeavoured to indicate these differences in Figs. 186 and 

 187. 



The length of the stirrups with the seat described, will 

 enable the rider to clear the pommel of the saddle easily when 



