202 TRAINING. 



up like an angry cat, striving to imitate William 

 Buckle, or any other celebrated rider ; but keep 

 your middle person from the waist to the knees 

 firm, yet flexible, grasj)ing well with your thighs, 

 and resting the weight mostly in the saddle, not in 

 the stirrups ; and if you have occasion to use the 

 spur, apply it as far under the belly as the legs 

 can reach. The management of the arms is even 

 of greater consequence : you may have as strong 

 a seat as a first-rate hog-hunter, and yet ride a 

 horrible race, from not keeping a steady unjerk- 

 ing pull (not a dead pull) on the mouth. The 

 man who has trained the horse is the only indi- 

 vidual who can direct the most advantageous way 

 in which he should be ridden ; though the person 

 that has daily acted as jockey, if not a goose, 

 must, of course, be able to form some opinion like- 

 wise. If you are about to ride a hard-mouthed 

 horse, always put a bit and curb on ; and this 

 should have been done in training : for if in 

 taking his exercise-gallops he once runs away, 

 he will be continually attempting the same trick : 

 for having now got to know his speed, he will be 

 on the look-out to break away with you in any part 

 of the race, perhaps swerve, or bolt ; and he will 

 rarely struggle honestly when challenged for the 

 rally in : but, while he should always be prevented 

 from all chance of running* olf, you need not go 



