56 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



may please to make, everything remains as before, and 

 the equilibrium of the horse is not disturbed. In the 

 second case, on the contrary, supposing the stirrups to 

 be placed far forwards, and the rider far back in the 

 saddle, standing in the stirrups will at once throw the 

 weight from one end of the saddle to the other ; make 

 this press partially on the horse's back instead of 

 equably, as in the first case, which see-sawing must 

 tend to make the saddle shift, and must also alter the 

 equilibrium of the horse, throwing its weight more for- 

 ward, consequently rendering the animal incapable of 

 turning sharply and handily, and, if done suddenly, 

 frequently even bringing it to a dead halt. In hunting, 

 shai^p turns are seldom required, whilst speed is ; and 

 therefore there is a justification for throwing the weight 

 forwards or backwards, especially in jumping; but even 

 this has certain limits, of which more hereafter. Again, 

 in road-riding, the English fashion of trotting requires 

 a man to rise in his stirrups ; but there is really no 

 reason why he should therefore sacrifice the lateral 

 support spoken of above to the extent one often sees, 

 or throw such a surplusage of weight on his horse's 

 forehand. There can be no doubt that he rides less 

 safely by so doing, for a sharp wheel-round of a shying 

 horse is more likely to bring him down ; but this 

 question of trotting must be also reserved for a future 

 chapter. 



For military pm-poses the stirrups must be j)laced in 

 the centre of the saddle directly under the rider's seat : 

 there is no alternative. The cavaliy soldier is often 

 compelled in the use of his weapons to stand in his 

 stirrups. If by doing so the equilibrium of his horse be 

 altered, he disables the animal and himself at the most 



