144 THE GREEK SEAT 



the models chosen by the sculptor were not 

 horsemen, but carefully selected athletes. 

 They were no more horsemen for example, than 

 the glorious athlete represented at high tension 

 by Watts in his equestrian statue of Physical 

 Energy. The back is too much curved for that 

 of the Red Indian, who earned a living on 

 horseback from his childhood, and kept a pro- 

 fessional watch on the horizon rather than an 

 amateur's nervous observation of the pony's 

 ears. So one turns away from the misleading 

 splendours of Greek sculpture, to the pro- 

 fessional guidance of General Xenophon, a 

 horseman who knew his business. " Whether 

 he uses a cloth or rides on the bare back we 

 would not have him sit as one who drives a 

 chariot " (bent knees), " but as if he were 

 standing erect with his legs somewhat astride, 

 for thus his thighs will cling closer to his horse, 

 and he will be able to wield his lance and shield 

 with more force." 



This seems to show that for freedom in the 

 use of weapons the Greek cavalry adopted 

 straight leg riding before they had saddle or 

 stirrups. So far as I can learn the Hellenic 

 seat passed on into Roman practice, but 

 through the Dark Ages which followed the fall 

 of Rome there seems to be no guidance as to 



