ELEMENTARY IIOIISEMANSIIIP 11 



(a) TIic fact that the eyes should be active and 

 looking straight to the front makes it necessary for 

 the rider to hold his head high, to straighten his 

 body, and to bring his seat well under him. More 

 than this, from the first the men get into the habit 

 of observing what happens around them, which is 

 the duty of a cavalry soldier. 



(b) If the hands are wtII placed, separated, and 

 the nails facing one another, the elbows are naturally 

 close to the body, in consequence of which the 

 shoulders are pressed back, the chest is pressed for- 

 ward, and the head is raised with an air of ease. 



On the other hand, if the nails are downwards, the 

 elbows stick out, the shoulders come forward and close 

 in the chest, the head follows the movement of the 

 shoulders, and the eyes fall, whilst the seat tends to 

 slip backwards. 



(c) The seat results from the position of the 

 buttocks ; they should be as far forward as possible, 

 without causing an exaggerated pressing down of the 

 backbone. 



(d) If the knees are well turned in, the muscles 

 of the thighs find their place under the bone, which 

 fits in a natural position, flat against the saddle. 

 The placing of the knee regulates that of the foot 

 which assumes a normal position. 



To sum up, the soldier should hold his head high, 

 and present, in his general attitude, straightness 

 without stiffness, and suppleness without slackness. 



The Suppling Exercises. — It is obvious from what 

 has been stated that the suppling exercises play a 

 very important role in the instruction of the horse- 

 man, and also that their employment demands 

 peculiar tact. Used without order and method by 



