MILITARY SEAT. 295 



with the least possible muscular exertion is the one best suited 

 to their requirements. 



In the army, the necessity for uniformity and regularity of 

 movement renders routine and horse control of paramount 

 importance ; but although the men are obliged to sit more 

 upright in the body, still there should be no difference in the 

 seat. I have noticed that the officers who ride the straightest 

 and best to hounds do not alter their style of seat when on 

 parade. 



Bumping in the saddle, which is of course done for 

 uniformity sake, is only insisted upon now when on the 

 marching past line and at State functions. At all other 

 times the men rise in their stirrups, which looks more 

 workmanlike, besides being easier both for man and 

 horse. 



The rider should keep his body upright, but without stiff- 

 ness. His head should be held in a free and unconstrained 

 position and his neck supple, not rigid. His arms should 

 hang naturally down to the elbows and close to the side, and 

 hands close to the saddle, with wrists slightly rounded. He 

 should keep his hands both low and steady ; for a man who 

 works his hands a good deal does not know how to use 

 them, and such restless movements are a source of constant 

 irritation to a horse's mouth and temper. The hands should 

 be used only on the reins as mute signals to the horse, and 

 the man who understands and practises this method of 

 handling, that is to say the man with " good hands," produces 

 the necessary effect from his mount by a single movement of 

 the wrist, for he never confuses his horse by meaningless 

 movements. 



The legs should be stretched well down, the thighs flat, the 

 knees close to the saddle, and the toes held nearly straight to 

 the front, more out than in. The lower part of the legs from 

 the knees down should fall naturally, and should not be kept 



