254 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



her left leg, from the knee to the stirrup, must 

 hang perpendicularly 1 along the side of the 

 horse, the inner surface or side of the knee 

 lightly pressing against the saddle-flap ; her 

 foot must be well placed in the stirrup ; her 

 seat directly in the centre of the saddle ; her 

 body erect and square to the front ; her shoul- 

 ders well back; and the small of her back 

 curved in. The right leg must firmly grasp the 

 second pommel as the horse rises, and the right 

 heel be held somewhat back, and close to the 

 fore-flap of the saddle. The hands must be 

 held low, and about six inches apart, with a 

 snaffle-rein in each, and the curb-reins must be 

 so placed that the rider will not unconsciously 

 draw upon them, but must not hang so loosely 

 as to become caught accidentally upon any pro- 

 jecting article with which they may come in con- 

 tact. If all these points be carefully attended 

 to, just previous to walking the horse up to the 

 bar, the rider will be in correct position and 

 ready for the leap, which she will accomplish 

 very quickly, with perfect security, and with a 

 much firmer seat than that . obtained by the 

 most finished horseman. 



1 If the leap be a very high one, the left foot may be thrust a 

 little more forward to enable the rider to lean back as far as is 

 necessary. 



