LEAPING, 87 



Some men, when they have formed their seat, ride best 

 with long stirrups, some \\ith short. The best plan, in 

 fencing, is to ride with that length of leather which is most 

 convenient and easy, remembering that when too long the 

 foot-hold on the irons is difficult to retain, and that for 

 support the rider might as well dispense with them and their 

 weight. In the hunting-seat proper the knees form the 

 grip and hinge, the inside of the calf of the legs the grasp, 

 while the thighs enable the body to rise and fall with the 

 undulating fore-and-aft motion of the horse as lightly as a 

 well-balanced carriage on its springs. The stirrups should, 

 therefore, be of a length sufficient to enable the rider to 

 raise that nameless portion of humanity just sufficiently 

 clear of the saddle to let this system of springs work freely, 

 without bumping, when occasions arise demanding the 

 entire removal of pressure and weight from the cantle of the 

 saddle so that the horse's loins may have full play. The 

 rider, by merely rising in his stirrups, should at once throw 

 his whole weight on to his knees, the lower part of his 

 legs, and into the stirrups, into which the foot should be 

 thrust well home. We hear a good deal of a ''handsome 

 long seat," but, \vell as it looks, it is not a strong seat, nor 

 one calculated to ease or assist either horse or rider. What 

 is wanted is that jiist seat, compatible with an easy, erect, 

 workmanlike attitude, w^hich enables the rider to humour 

 himself and his mount by almost imperceptible changes of 

 position with a sort of ball-and-socket movement. 



Having secured a good jumping nag, a snaffle hunter if 

 possible, the beginner will commence with the smallest 

 obstacles, both as regards height and width. I am not so 

 much afraid of his falling off as of his unduly interfering 

 with the liberty of the horse's head. From the very first he 

 must learn to abstain from attempting, by aid of the bridle, 



