Origin of Short Stirrups. 25 



reasonably long one would seem to have been the 

 most natural first step from the bareback seat. 

 If so, what is it that has gradually lengthened the 

 seat of the Englishman, who represents for us to- 

 day the favorite type of civilized horsemanship, 

 and if not the best, perhaps nearest that which is 

 best suited to our Eastern wants ? 



No doubt, in early days, horses were mainly 

 ridden on a canter or a gallop. If perchance a 

 trot, it was a mere shog, comfortable enough with 

 a short seat and high cantle. The early horse 

 was a short-gaited creature. But two things came 

 gradually about. Dirt roads grew into turnpikes ; 

 and the pony-gaited nag began, about the days of 

 the Byerly Turk, nearly two hundred years ago, 

 to develop into the long-striding thoroughbred. 

 The paved pike speedily proved that a canter 

 sooner injures the fetlock joints of the forelegs 

 and strains the sinews of the hind than a trot, 

 and men merciful unto their beasts or careful of 

 their pockets began to ride the latter gait. But 

 when the step in the trot became longer and 

 speedier as the saddle horse became better bred, 

 riders were not long in finding out that to rise in 

 the stirrups was easier for both man and beast, 

 and as shorter stirrups materially aid the rise, 

 the seat began to grow in length. It has been 

 proved satisfactorily to the French, who have al- 

 ways been " close " riders, that to rise in the trot 



