Seats 39 



A further disadvantage of the straight-legged 

 seat, as far as it concerned the Army, was that it 

 demanded a higher standard of horsemanship. 

 True balance on the fork is difficult to attain, and 

 more often than not it was on his reins that the 

 soldier relied for support in riding. The " firm 

 hand and light seat " had long been a by-word in 

 the service. Optimists will no doubt remark with 

 Cesaresco that horses with insensible mouths have 

 the advantage of making it possible for many people 

 to ride who could not otherwise do so. The modern 

 English regulation seat, which is the hunting one, 

 should, however, put an end to the above state of 

 affairs; and the remark of a famous master of 

 hounds, made but a few years ago, that his son rode 

 very well until he entered the Army and passed 

 through a cavalry riding school, should not hold 

 good nowadays. The old-pattern military saddle, 

 which is only suited to the seat advocated by Xeno- 

 phon, has unfortunately been retained ; the big man 

 has the greatest difficulty in getting into it, and is 

 most uncomfortable when he gets there. Big and 

 small are farther from the horse than need be. 



A good judge and a close follower of racing for 



