IK THE SADDLE. 15 



home in a oonstantly moving saddle as in a stationary 

 arm-chair — so that, whether the horse walks, trots, or 

 canters, shies or jumps, you will either remain immov- 

 ably in the saddle, or get back to your proper position 

 when disturbed from it, without effort or loss of time. 

 Bear in mind, too, that in acquiring a seat, it is just as 

 easy to acquire a good one as a bad one, while only the 

 good seat (and there is but one good seat) will enable you 

 under all circumstances to ride safely and well. With- 

 out a good seat, no amount of skill in the management 

 of a horse will be of much use. So begin at the begin- 

 ning, and devote your whole attention to acquiring an 

 easy and secure position under all circumstances. Do 

 not even trouble yourself about the manner of mounting 

 and dismounting. 



The proper seat on horseback is one in which the 

 crotch and the hips are as firmly attached to the saddle 

 as it is possible for them to be ; the legs below the knee 

 as free and independent as possible ; and the body, from 

 the waist upward, perfectly supple and pliable. "What- 

 ever movement the horse makes, the hips must conform 

 to it, moving to the right or the left, or tipping back- 

 ward or forward, as the case may be. But while they 

 follow the changing position of the saddle, the legs, from 

 the knees downward, must be free to move in obedience 

 to the rider's will ; and the upper part of the trunk, 

 keeping its perfect balance, must move easily on a flex- 

 ible spine and accommodate itself instinctively to every 

 movement. 



If a man's body were cut off at the lower part of the 

 waist, the natural pressure of the thighs against the 



