576 SEAT. 



The length of stirrup, in the case of a young man for 

 road riding, should be just enough for him to "post " at ease 

 in the trot with the ball of his foot pressing the flat of the 

 iron. There is, however, no actual objection to riding with 

 the feet "home." This should carry his fork over the 

 pommel, when he stands in the stirrups, as he may choose 

 to do. Older men ride in a shorter stirrup, such as most 

 men use all their lives for hunting and cross country work. 

 Measure and remember your exact length of stirrup on your 

 arm with the iron in your armpit, and have it right before 

 you get up. At the same time remember the particular 

 horse's shape may call for longer or shorter leathers than 

 those which your own horse demands ; and therefore learn 

 to take them up or let them down from your seat in the 

 saddle. 



SEAT. 



Good hands and good seat are inseparable. You are not 

 likely to have one without the other. You must not use 

 the reins to keep your seat; your seat must be independent 

 of the reins, but you must be sitting right to use the reins 

 right. Seated on your crotch, down in the saddle, your 

 knees turned in as much as is possible and held immovable 

 at the grip, the leg below the knee should hang straight 

 down loose, except for the tension required to keep the toe 

 up and the heel down, and the foot straight with the line 

 of direction. There should be no movement except from 

 above the hips, where the small of the back should be a 

 pivot, and every movement in unison with that of your 

 horse, sitting naturally, neither in a slovenly attitude nor as 

 stiff as a ramrod. There should be a slight inclination of 



