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position from which all others proceed, and in Avhich the rider remains 

 -whilst the Horse works straight forward, and without any hend or devi- 

 ation. In order to describe this, it is usual to divide the horseman into 

 three parts — the thighs, from the fork to the knees: the legs, from 

 the knee downward ; and the body, from the fork upwards. 



The thighs, to have an effective hold of the saddle, must be turned 

 inward from the hips, so that the hollow and muscular part of the thighs 

 may lay smooth and flat to the saddle. The knees must be stretched 

 down and kept back, so as to place the thighs about twenty-five or 

 thirty degrees short of a perpendicular. This Avill occasion the rider 

 to sit on his fork or twist, as he should, and not on his breech. The 

 knee is to be bent to that degree, in which the toe will be perpen- 

 dicular with it. The legs to hang near the Horse's sides, but not to 

 touch. The heel to be sunk as low as possible, and the toe raised. 

 This Avill give firmness and strength to the muscles of the legs and 

 thi"hs, which last, at all times, ought to have hold of the saddle, as the 

 chief dependence for preserving the balance or equipoise of the body. 

 The legs are occasional auxiliaries, to strengthen the hold of the thighs, 

 by the grasp of the calves. The legs are likewise used to request, aid, 

 support, and chastise the Horse. 



The body, fi-om the fork upwards, must always retain that attitude 

 which secures the equipoise, and adapts it to the corresponding motion: 

 the body must be held upright, without the least propensity to drop for- 

 ward, which, from the position of the thighs, it inevitably will, unless 

 the loins be sufficiently bent, making the back very hollow, and the 

 shoulders thrown back, the chest being open, the head ujiright and 

 firm, the arms from the shoulder to the elbow, hanging perpendicular ; 

 the elbows bent, that the left-hand may generally reach, within three 

 inches, the pommel of the saddle. The arm, above the Avrist, may liglitly 

 restagainst the body, and the w rist may be so bent, that the thumb being 

 upwards, resting on the first joint of the fore-finger, may point betAveen 

 the Horse's ears. The right-hand holding the whip, ought to be placed 

 somewhat lower than the left, not to obstruct the operation of the 

 bridle. In this seat, the nose, the breast, the knee, and toe, form a 

 perpendicular line ; the shoulders, elbow, and heel, likewise form a 



per- 



