THE HIGH SCHOOL 89 



to leave the legs free for delicate work with the calves, 

 ankles and spnrs ; whilst a few, amongst them Mr. 

 Fillis, whose horses were specially brilliant in their 

 action, when collecting their horses sink well down on 

 to the back of their seats, with slack loins, flat chests 

 and the seat bones tucked well under, and work them 

 with the calves against the girths, and the heels close 

 to the sides, letting the knees lie in a natural position, 

 on the back half of the sides, and turning them out 

 slightly when using the spurs so that they strike close 

 to the girths. Personally I do not think that the knees 

 should ever be turned out, and it is really unnecessary 

 to do so. 



For individual work Filhs' method is effective, and 

 his seat conforms to our hunting seat : but for combined 

 rides, the Baucher seat is smarter, and can be made 

 more uniform ; the grip of the thighs' should, however, 

 be avoided as much as possible ; tired thighs are a sure 

 indication of a wrong use of the legs ; the knees should 

 be turned in and then the toes turned out and the calves, 

 and not the thighs, pressed in, whilst the heels apply 

 the spurs with the necessary delicate touch ; the mere 

 pressing down of the knees, and the drawing back of 

 the heels, without pressure, is, however, generally 

 sufficient to stimulate the horse. 



We now come to the question of the aids : most 

 High School riders recommend the diagonal use of the 

 hands and legs in the Spanish walk and trot, so as to 

 prolong the lateral poise of the horse's body, some, 

 however, say that this alternate action of the legs is 

 unnecessary, and, as a stimulation to the nervous 

 system is all that is required, they think it preferable, 

 so as to keep the shoulders and quarters on as straight 

 a line as possible and to avoid exciting an unrhythmical 



