ON HUNTING 47 



foot, turn the body facing the saddle and seize it at the back 

 or cantle. The left knee and this is the important point 

 should be pressed against the saddle-flap to keep the toe from 

 digging into the horse's ribs. Spring off the right foot and 

 help yourself up by the cantle. Pause a second while 

 standing in the stirrup and drop lightly, not "soss," into the 

 saddle. Turn the right toe inwards and pick up the stirrup. 

 Never bend down and grope with the hand for the iron; 

 this is j ust the time a fresh horse may buck or plunge, and if you 

 are half off, feeling for the stirrup, he shovels you off altogether. 

 If the leather is turned the right way it lies smoothly up 

 the inside of the shin. If you find difficulty in getting the right 

 foot into the stirrup, twist the leather a few times from left to 

 right before mounting and then it will, hang in such a position 

 as to meet the toe. The length of the leather always seems 

 a great difficulty with beginners. Personally, I fancy leathers 

 rather longer than shorter. If a man is round in the thighs 

 and thick in the calf he will want his leathers on the short 

 side. If his thighs are long he will sit comfortably if the 

 leathers are long enough to allow the fork to clear the 

 pommel of the saddle when he stands up in the stirrups 

 with the feet thrust right home. If a horse is a bit " reached 

 backed " and very strong behind the saddle the stirrups 

 will have to be a bit shorter than with a horse with fine withers 

 and a hollo wish back. Flat-racing jockeys have adopted 

 a seat like a frog on a shovel, which may suit them possibly 

 well enough in flat races, where they go at top pace all through 

 and hang like grim death on to their horses' mouths, but they 

 are helpless if a horse bucks or plunges. I fancy if Fordham, 

 Harry Custance or Fred Archer were alive they would still 

 head the list of winning jockeys without adopting this 

 American seat. Steeplechase jockeys ride longer, but not so 

 long as the hunting seat. A steeplechase is an effort sustained 

 but for a short time, and I notice cross-country jockeys ride 

 fairly long out hunting. The great thing is to acquire a seat 

 independent altogether of the reins. If you want to get a 

 secure seat and strengthen the riding muscles practice riding 

 without stirrups ; trot a little without them every day and keep 

 your balance without any assistance from the bridle. You can 

 only do it by gripping with the thighs, not the calves, and 



