THE AIDS. 53 



to the armpit; when the sole of the stirrup-iron reaches 

 the rider's side under the armpit the adjustment is correct. 

 When taking a gallop across country, or over broken rough 

 ground, the stirrups should be taken up two holes, and 

 when starting on a long journey it is advisable to do the 

 same. This will ease both horse and rider. When long in 

 the saddle the rider will find much relief by at times taking 

 his feet out of the stirrups and letting the legs hang loose, 

 toes pointing downwards. He should invariably adjust his 

 stirrups prior to mounting, and see, unless some malforma- 

 tion of limb has to be provided for, that both are of a length. 

 All stirrup leathers should be double barred ; that pattern 

 of buckle permits of the easier alteration of the leathers and 

 allows them to lie flatter under the upper flap of the saddle. 

 On no account must the end of the leathers be run througli 

 the space between the bars, it must lie back flat on the flap, 

 at an angle, passing under the rider's thigh. 



The Aids. 



In horsemanship the aids, so called, are the almost im- 

 perceptible motions and practical applications of the bridle- 

 hand, or hands and legs, through which the wishes of the 

 rider are conveyed to the horse in order to determine his 

 movements, turnings, and paces, and by which he is taught 

 to obey the bit, and is given a light mouth. Their object 

 is, through certain indications, to make the rider understood 

 and obeyed by the horse, and it is necessary that these 

 indications should be such that the rider can employ them 

 instantaneously and with certainty under all circumstances. 

 They should be so simple and so marked that no man can 

 mistake, and no horse misunderstand, them. Obedience to 

 hand and leg is the foundation of a horse's education; it 



