156 THE SEAT. 



her to keep her right shoulder back, which she cannot 

 do without twisting and stiffening her body. 



For practical requirements, as out hunting or on a 

 long journey, the seat should be free from all constraint 

 and rigidity, so that it can be maintained without 

 undue fatigue for several hours, during which time the 

 rider should be able at any moment to utilise the grip 

 of her legs with promptness, precision and strength. A 

 lady, with a good seat and properly made saddle, will 

 ride quite square enough (Fig. Si) to avoid any lack 

 of elegance in her appearance without having to adopt 

 a conventional twist. 



PRACTICAL DETAILS. 



The first thing for a rider to do is to place herself in 

 a thoroughly comfortable position on the saddle. She 

 should sit well down in it, in the same manner as she 

 would sit on a chair in which she wished to lean back, 

 and would thus get her seat well under her, and would 

 be able to obtain, when required, a strong grip of the 

 crutches. In this position she will be able to increase 

 her stability by bringing her shoulders back, which 

 she could not do with the same facility, if, instead of 

 leaning back, she sat back. In order to see where she 

 is going, she should sit more or less erect. Her left 

 foot should be placed in the stirrup only as far as the 

 ball of the foot, so as to allow the ankle joint full play. 

 The stirrup leather should be long enough to enable 

 the left thigh to clear the leaping head, when the lady 

 rises at the trot ; and short enough for it to exert full 



