SEAT. 97 



neat as one can is a compliment to society, to be safe 

 and comfortable is a duty to oneself. 



Much also depends on the animal we bestride. Horses 

 low in the withers, and strong behind the saddle, par- 

 ticularly if inclined to " catch hold " a little, require in 

 all cases rather shorter stirrups than their easier and 

 truer-shaped stable-companions, nay, the varying round- 

 ness of barrel at different stages of condition affects the 

 attitude of a rider, and most of us must have remarked, 

 as horse and master get finer drawn towards the spring, 

 how we let out the stirrups in proportion as we take in 

 waistbelt, and saddle girths. Men rode well never- 

 theless, witness the Elgin marbles, before the invention 

 of this invaluable aid to horsemanship ; and no eques- 

 trian can be considered perfect who is unable in a 

 plunge or leap to stick on his horse bare-backed. Every 

 boy should be taught to ride without stirrups, but not till 

 he is tall and strong enough to grasp his pony firmly be- 

 tween his knees. A child of six or seven might injure 

 itself in the effort, and ten, or eleven, is an early age 

 enough for our young gentleman to be initiated into the 

 subtleties of the art. My own idea is that he should 

 begin without reins, so as to acquire a seat totally indepen- 

 dent of his hands, and should never be trusted with a bridle 

 till it is perfectly immaterial to him whether he has hold 



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