24 RIDING AND TRAINING SADDLE-HORSES. 



relieve the muscles of the fatiguing work of keeping the 

 seat firm at all times. So long as there is no unusual 

 disturbance of the position, it is well to depend mainly 

 on the stirrups to preserve it ; but any sudden start, in 

 whatever direction, should find the knees and thighs at 

 once ready to perform their duty of grasping the saddle. 



Fiff. 5. — ^MEXICAN SADDLE. 



This cannot be the case if the weight is thrown too much 

 on the feet ; but it is also important to learn to stand in 

 the stirrups (while the horse is in motion), turning so as 

 to look to the rear, and to throw the weight first on one 

 foot and then on the other ; in short, to assume every 

 possible position rapidly and easily, for all this adds im- 



