SEAT. 103 



of the correct line will afford such leverage as it were 

 for the rest of his body as gives considerable advantage 

 in any unusual difficulty, such as a drop-leap, for 

 instance, with which he may have to contend. Now in 

 the plain-flapped saddle, he can bend his leg as much as 

 he likes, and put it indeed where he will. 



This facility, too, is very useful in smuggling through 

 a gap by a tree, often the most convenient egress, to 

 make use of which, with a little skill and prudence, is a 

 less hazardous experiment than it looks. A horse will 

 take good care not to graze his own skin, and the space 

 that admits of clearing his hips is wide enough for his 

 rider's leg as well, if he hangs it over the animal's 

 shoulder just where its neck is set on to the withers. 

 But I would caution him to adopt this attitude carefully 

 and above all, in good time. He should take his foot 

 out of the stirrup and make his preparatory arrange- 

 ments some three or four strides off at least, so as to 

 accommodate his change of seat to the horse's canter 

 before rising at the leap, and if he can spare his hand 

 nearest the tree, so as to " fend it off" a little at the 

 same time, he will be surprised to find how safely and 

 pleasantly he accomplished a transit through some 

 awkward and dangerous fence. 



But he must beware of delaying this little manoeuvre 



