96 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



trusting in the depth and security of his saddle, rode so 

 long as to derive no assistance whatever from his stirrups, 

 sitting down on his horse as much as possible, in dread, 

 may be, lest the point of an adversary's lance should 

 hoist him fairly out of his place over a cantle six inches 

 high, and send him clanging to the ground, in mail and 

 plate, surcoat, helmet and plumes, with his lady-love, 

 squires, yeomen, the marshals of the lists, and all his 

 feudal enemies looking on ! 



Now the length of stirrup with which a man should 

 ride, and in its adjustment consists much of the ease, 

 grace, and security of his position, depends on the con- 

 formation of his lower limbs. If his thighs are long in pro- 

 portion to his frame, flat and somewhat curved inwards, he 

 will sit very comfortably at the exact length that raises 

 him clear of his horse's withers, when he stands up in his 

 stirrups with his feet home, and the majority of men thus 

 limbed, on the majority of horses, will find this a good 

 general rule. But when the legs are short and muscular, 

 the thighs round and thick, the whole frame square and 

 strong, more like wrestling than dancing, and many very 

 superior riders are of this figure, the leathers must be 

 pulled up a couple of holes, and the foot thrust a little 

 more forward, to obtain the necessary security of seat, at 

 a certain sacrifice of 'grace and even ease. To look as 



