THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. 121 



the lady can herself decide the question by 

 placing her fingers between these two buttons, 

 and then carrying the former in a straight line 

 directly down to the chamber of the saddle ; if 

 these coincide, and if she has placed herself far 

 enough back on the saddle to be able to grasp 

 the second pommel comfortably with her right 

 knee, while the left one is just spanned by the 

 third pommel, then she is in a position to ride 

 with ease to herself and horse, for she now sits 

 upon that part of the animal which is the cen- 

 tre of motion in his forward movement, and 

 in this position can keep in unison with the ca- 

 dence of his various gaits. Again, her weight 

 being exactly upon the centre of motion, she 

 can with difficulty be unseated or shaken off 

 by the most violent efforts of the horse, for, 

 whether he springs suddenly forward, or side- 

 ways, or whirls around, the rider is in a position 

 at once to anticipate his movement, to keep a 

 firm seat, and quickly to gain her balance. 



When the horse advances straight forward, 

 the rider sitting with head erect and her 

 body so placed that its entire front is directed 

 toward the horse's head, or, in other words, that 

 a straight line drawn from one hip to the other 

 would form a right angle with one drawn along 

 the centre of the horses head and neck must 



