FOR PEACE AND WAR. 151 



the spring of the knee, at which there must necessarily be a slight 

 angle, to bring the foot back to its position under the seat ; so 

 that in the perpendicular position the whole weight and muscular 

 pressure of the rider descend upon the seat and stirrups without 

 any counteracting influence whatever. The more the rider in such 

 a position presses the stirrups, the lighter will be the grasp which 

 his thighs will take of the saddle, and the more immovable the 

 resistance which his trunk will offer to the pull of the reins. 



On the contrary, in the oblique position, every pressure of the 

 foot will re-act against the trunk, because it will neither be broken 

 by spring at the knee (the leg in that position being necessarily 

 extended), nor opposed by the vertical force of gravitation, and 

 will consequently detach not only the seat, but the thighs them- 

 selves from the saddle. 



To pull such a rider out of the saddle the run-away horse will 

 only have to overcome a resistance equal to the difference between 

 the rider's weight and the pressure on the stirrups ; so that the 

 more he presses on the stirrups, the lighter he will be to lift. 



To pull the balanced rider from his seat, not only must his 

 entire muscular power be overcome, but his entire iveight must he 

 lifted vertically out of the saddle ! and that, by a force acting at 

 right angles to his figure, which is practically impossible. 



So also the perpendicular, or military seat, is found the most 

 convenient for avoiding those shocks, which are inseparable from 

 high action. It is impossible to bring the figure into this position 

 without making such an arrangement of the limbs, from the hip 

 downwards, as brings the flat of the thigh in immediate contact 

 with the saddle, with the back of the limb turned outward ; in 

 which position it is evident that the immediate line of contact at 

 the seat must be limited to a very small portion of the person, 

 and that directly under the weight. A vertical shock striking the 

 rider there, may lift him vertically, but his position will be im- 

 mediately restored by the counteracting influence of gravity ; and 

 if the shocks be of a peculiarly violent nature,. it may be avoided 

 altogether by detaching that portion of the seat from the saddle, 

 which the command of the stirrup enables at all times the rider 



