ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 95 



MANAGEMENT OP THE SEAT AND REINS. 



The seat is the first thing to be settled, and it should 

 always be fixed before anything else is done — that is, as 

 soon as the body is placed in the saddle. There are four 

 things necessary to be attended to — first the position of 

 the weight, so as to be sufficiently forward in the saddle ; 

 secondly, the fixing of the knees on the paddle part of the 

 flap; thirdly, the proper length and position of the stir- 

 rup ; and fourthly, the carriage of the body. The weight 

 of the body should be well forward, because the centre of 

 motion is close to the middle of the saddle ; and as the 

 weight is chieflly thrown upon the breech, if the seat is far 

 back it is not in that part, but near the cantle that it is 

 placed. But by sitting well forward, the weight is dis- 

 tributed between the breech, thighs and feet, and the horse 

 is able to rise and fall in his gallop without disturbing 

 his rider. The knees must be well forward to effect this 

 seat, and also well in front of the stirrup-leather; for if 

 they are placed behind them the body is thrown too far 

 back, and the hold is insecure. The object of all young 

 riders should be to get as far forward as possible, so that 

 the knee is not off the saddle ; and they can scarcely over- 

 do this part of the lesson by any effort in their power. 

 The stirrups must not be too short. These should be about 

 the length which will touch the projecting ankle bone, 

 when the legs are placed as above directed, but out of the 

 stirrups, and when they are placed in them the heel should 

 be about an inch and a half below the ball of the foot. 

 This latter part receives the pressure of the stirrup in 

 road riding, but in field-riding or racing, the foot is thrust 

 " home," and the stirrup touches the instep, whilst the 

 pressure is taken by the under part of the arch of the 



