92 THE HORSE. 



distributed in the middle of the saddle. He will hug 

 the animal by allowing his thighs to fall on either side, 

 without confining himself to turn them inwards in order 

 to bring the feet to a parallelism as uncomfortable as 

 useless, since to be naturally placed these should be 

 turned slightly outwards. (See ng. B.) 



In equitation, the word seat is understood to express 

 the manner in which the man is posed in the saddle : 

 otherwise expressed, it is the solid and immoveable appui 

 on which the mass of the body of the rider is fixed in 

 good equilibrium. 



The persistency of the good seat of an equestrian 

 depends on the perfect adherence of the thighs as far as 

 and inclusive of the knees ; it is through the palpably 

 perceptible contact of these last that the immobility of 

 the femoral ray is maintained, which is so important in 

 equitation. 



The fold of the knee shall be pliant to permit the 

 manoeuvring to the rear of the legs so that they may 

 enclose the horse, under its greatest diameter, spurring it 

 in useful places. 



On a horse, seen in profile, the point of the foot of a 

 well-posed rider will never exceed the vertical touching 

 his knee ; the boot, of which the anterior third must 

 alone be in the stirrup, should have this portion more 

 elevated than the heel, for the preservation of the appui 

 by a single pressure without exertion. 



On all occasions the rider must be able to hold himself 

 erect upon stirrups he thus occupies, without discom- 

 moding: his legs, and also, at need, must be able to make 

 use of an arm for attack, fight, or self-defence. 



The stirrup becomes completely filled up to the 

 instep when leaping obstacles or racing. 



It is by means of his legs that the rider connects him- 

 self with all the motions exacted by his will, and they 

 therefore form the principal agents for the domination of 

 the animal ; by inspiring fear of the spur, they produce 

 obedience and submissiveness. These few observations 

 are made because it is of importance that the artist should 

 subordinate the actions of the horse to the position of 

 these aids to the rider. 



The aids serve to put the horse in motion, guide it, 



