40 BOW TO BIDE. 



himself and fall. Tlierefore a horse should always be "pulled together" 

 or "collected" before he is asked to move; he should be slightly retained 

 by the bridle, and lightly pressed by the legs. This makes him stand 

 square with his legs under him, and helps his equilibrium. The legs of a 

 good horseman on a well-trained horse will imperceptibly guide and regulate 

 his paces almost as much as the reins. 



"THE RISE" IN THE STIRRUPS. 



The general mistake in beginning to rise in the stirrups is that the rider 

 works too hard and continues bobbing up and down without getting the 

 time, taking a great deal out of himself and his horse and doing no good. 



In rising the seat should just clear the saddle, but the body must be 

 kept long enough up, as it were, to rise with one step and sit down with the 

 next (although the horse really takes a step between). If he loses the time, 

 which he is pretty sure to do at first, it is no use to keep on working the 

 body up and down to try and recover it, but sit still for a few steps and 

 then try again. 



It is found advisable with some pupils in beginning this lesson to shorten 

 their stirrups a hole for a time, and with others to take a lock of the mane 

 in the right hand, first putting both reins into the left hand, of course 

 resuming the proper position as soon as they get into the way of it a little. 

 Care must also here be taken that the lower parts of the legs are kept 

 steady. Nothing looks worse than to see a man kicking his horse under 

 the jaw with his toe, and in the flank with the heel every time he rises on 

 the stirrup. Besides, as long as the legs are swinging backwards and for- 

 wards, the seat cannot be very secure. 



With a full bridle, that is, snaffle and curb, the pupil should ride on the 

 snaffle, leaving the curb reins loose on the horse's neck, and then he must 

 be instructed how to take all four reins. There are several ways of doing 

 so, but the following is preferable : — 



