SEATS.. 75 



of confidence and balance you- may take away the 

 stirrups to 'perfect the latter, without running the least 

 risk of destroying the former. 



To return from this digression, and at the sam^, 

 time bring our investigatioji of the general conditions 

 on which a safe seat depends to a conclusion, let us 

 recall to mind the final result of Chapter II. as it 

 affects the seat. Whatever the form of this may be 

 in a state of rest, from the moment action ensues the 

 lever power transmitted tlirough the hind and fore legs 

 respectively will constantly tend to disturb the rider's 

 seat more or less everywhere, but least of all when this 

 is exactly over the perpendicular line passing through 

 the centre of motion (the line B F, fig. 4) ; whereas 

 it will be most felt by the rider the more his seat is 

 placed away from this line, especially in rear of it. 



Here are two scraps of newspaper correspondence : 

 '' He never seemed to move in his saddle from the 

 starting-post till he had won the race :" and again- 

 " They stiU ride as if they formed part and parcel o| 

 their horses; it is the old Centaur-Uke form." 



English gentlemen like to ride with ease, and will 

 have probably no objection to grace. The former pre- 

 cludes the idea of all visible musculai' exertion, and 

 presupposes a feeling of security ; the latter is equally 

 incompatible with slovenliness, afi:ectation, or stifl:ness ; 

 moreover, steadiness of the hand depends on solidity 

 of the seat, and this, as we have seen, depends to a great 

 extent on the not being exposed to conflicting move- 

 ments derived from the horse. 



TJiC Jockey's Saddle and Seat. — English jockey- 

 riding is universally acknowledged to be perfection ; it 



