ENGLISH SPORTSWOMEN 239 



Row Society way of sitting on a strong well-bred 

 hack and the cross-country seat, which may be 

 seen in the first flight in Leicestershire. The 

 Duke of Beaufort's ; Vale of the White Horse, 

 make crack riders observed. But many a good 

 run in a little known country has surprised first- 

 rate judges used to fine performances in all places, 

 no matter whether hounds are after a fox or a hare, 

 or in a warm or a cold climate. 



According to Miles, "The position of the stir- 

 rup has much to do with the seat of the female 

 equestrian. The stirrup must be correctly adapted 

 to the length of the lady's leg when seated in 

 a square and exact position in the saddle. The 

 modus operandi is as follows : Let the stirrup- 

 foot hang down freely from the hip-joint, the 

 knee slightly flexed, the toes raised and turned 

 towards the horse's side ; then, while the foot is 

 immovable in the stirrup, let the strap-holes be 

 taken up and permanently kept at the approved 

 length. The pressure of the foot in the stirrup 

 should come alone from the toes to the arch of 

 the foot, which will give the desired elasticity of 

 movement in the quicker paces of the horse. 

 Should the lady be impelled to the endeavour 

 to retain her foot in the stirrup, her weight must 

 preponderate on the left side. On the contrary, 

 if the stirrup be too short, it necessarily gives a 

 rolling motion to her body, destructive alike to 

 grace, elegance, and security of seat, and will pre- 

 vent her seating herself back sufficiently in her 

 saddle. Thus much of seat and stirrups. The 

 arms should be held freely and unconstrainedly, 



