62 MECHANICAL AID OF THE EIDER. [CHAP. 



horse springs, the lower part of the rider being firmly 

 fixed in the saddle, and the upper part perfectly pliable, 

 the body will fall back of itself; and with strong jumping 

 horses, or at down leaps, the shoulders of fine riders will 

 constantly meet their horse's croupes. 



A bad horseman throws his horse down, which a good 

 one does not. That is, because the bad horseman 

 hurries his horse over hard or rough ground, or down 

 hill, or over loose stones allows him to choose his own 

 ground lets him flounder into difficulties, and when 

 there, hauls him so that he cannot see, or exert himself 

 to get out of them, and expecting chastisement, the horse 

 springs and struggles to avoid it before he has recovered 

 his feet, and goes down with a tremendous impetus. If 

 he has to cross a rut to the right he probably forces his 

 horse across it when the right foot is on the ground. In 

 this case, unless the horse collects himself and jumps if 

 he attempts to step across it, the probability is that in 

 crossing his legs he knocks one against the other and 

 falls. The reverse of all this should be the case: If 



