THE-:- HORSE 



descend firmly seated upon his back in order 

 to avoid receiving a very unpleasant jolt in a 

 sitting position. 



When the horse has reached in the air that 

 theoretically stationary moment before his re- 

 turn to earth, grip is most necessary to the 

 rider. The force that has carried the rider 

 upward, suddenly is taken away, and the ten- 

 dency of the rider would be to continue up- 

 ward until gravity counteracts inertia. Grip 

 applied at this moment, with sufficient force, 

 has the desired result and makes possible a 

 uniform return with the horse to the ground. 



The kind of grip most effective, needless to 

 say, depends entirely upon the physical attrib- 

 utes of the rider. 



A foreign cavalry man paid me a visit once 

 at Stockdale Ranch. He examined the Mexi- 

 can saddles with interest, having never pre- 

 viously seen equipment of this kind, and was 

 particularly pleased with the horn. He ven- 

 tured the opinion that by the judicious use of 

 this instrument for a handhold he could not be 

 thrown off. 



A horse was led out, which was able, with 

 provocation, to buck. I made a noose with my 

 riata around the animal's flanks, and the 

 officer, having seated himself upon the animal, 

 firmly grasped the horn with both hands, with- 

 out troubling himself about the reins. On be- 

 ing informed all was in order, I pulled the rope 



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