12 HOW TO RIDE. 



out the danger of exaggerations, and the gross absurdity of applying a style 

 of riding specially adapted to one purpose, to others that have no analogy 

 with it ; in fact, it will be shown that different styles of riding are not only 

 inevitable, but legitimate, because the ends to be attained vary considerably. 

 The intention is to refrain from all dogmatism and assertions, and merely 

 present general principles, derived from mechanical laws that admit of no 

 controversy, showing their inevitable bearing on the most important points, 

 and leaving the reader as much as possible to form his own judgment 

 independently, and arrive at a practical application for himself. 



THE FRAMEWORK OF THE HORSE. 



The horse depicted in Plate I. is of an average description, and stands 

 in a natural position. The eye tells us at once that a somewhat greater 

 proportion of its weight rests on the fore legs than on the hind ones, owing, 

 as one sees, to the projecting position of the head and neck, which are 

 much heavier than the tail. 



Looking now at the spinal column, the framework of the back, on which 

 the rider's weight is to be placed, we perceive that the spinal processes of 

 the first thirteen vertebrse of the back, reckoning from the point where the 

 neck is attached, incline backwards, whereas those of the remaining ten 

 vertebrae incline forwards ; the fourteenth vertebra, with its process, stand- 

 ing perfectly upright, and forming, as it were, the keystone of the arch 

 thus presented, so that, in fact, this fourteenth vertebra becomes the centre 

 of motion of the horse's body — the point about which the several move- 

 ments of the fore and hind legs are performed ; and this is further shown 

 by the distribution and points of attachment of the muscles of the back 

 and adjacent parts of the fore and hind quarters. The internal motion of 

 the several parts of the body increases in proportion to their distance from 

 the fourteenth vertebra: and the same is applicable to burdens placed on the 

 horse's back, especially a rider. 



