195 



The body must always be in a situaticm, not only to preserve the 

 balance, but maintain the seat. The distinction between the balance 

 and the seat may be thus marked : The balance is the centrical or equi- 

 librian position of the body, whatever may be the motions of the Horse. 

 The seat is the horseman's firm hold of the saddle, when he is liable to 

 be thrown over the Horse's neck, or to fall backward over his tail. 



To preserve the balance, it is evident the body of the rider must keep 

 in the same direction as the Horse's legs; e.g. if the Horse work 

 straight and upright on his legs, the rider's body must be in the same 

 upright direction; but when the Plorse bends or leans, as when working 

 on a circle, or trotting round a corner, the rider must lean in the same 

 direction or proportion, or his balance will be lost. The balance, in- 

 deed, may be preserved by a different seat, but the seat will not be 

 secure. 



For instance, a rider who sits on his breech, with his knees up and 

 legs forward, may preserve his balance, yet lose his seat, should the 

 Horse rear or kick. Admitting that with this seat, a hollow back and 

 firm hold with the calves of the legs, might be preserved, the rider is 

 yet only secure against stumbling and kicking ; for should the Horse 

 rear, the rider must inevitably fall backwards, and be in danger of 

 pulling the Horse over with himself On the other hand, if the body 

 incline forward, so as to have a propensity to fall forward, when the 

 Horse shortens his step, or abates his action, the rider is in danger, 

 should the Horse kick, or only stumble, of falling over his head. When 

 the back is rounded instead of hollow, the seat is much exposed, be- 

 cause the body is not in a position well adapted to take the correspond- 

 ing motion, should the Horse rear, kick, plunge, or stumble. 



Respecting the arms, as the position of the body, arms and every 

 member varies in some measure, according to the position or style in 

 which the Horse is worked, whatever the position may be, the muscles 

 and nerves of the arms, and in short, of every part, must possess such 

 firmness, as to exclude every perceptible shake or motion. 



To acquire the true balance, the best method is to practise on circles, 

 which is called the longe : begin on large circles, and an easy trot, in 

 which the Horse will be so little bent, as scarcely to make a perceptible 



2 c 2 alteration 



