32 POSITION OF RIDER. 



saddle, with knees bent, so as to place the 

 legs a little more forward than "straight up 

 and down," and feet parallel with the horse's 

 sides ; the toes raised and heels pressed down. 

 To which may be added the riding-master's 

 usual laconic directions of, "body back — el- 

 bows down — toes up — and heels out." But 

 if, on the contrary, the knees are opened out- 

 wards, the under-part of the thighs on the 

 saddle, the heels drawn up, and turned in, 

 and the toes outwards, such positions are 

 insecure, dangerous, ugly, and vulgar. 



When the rider's person and limbs are put 

 into the proper position (which should be done 

 without the stirrups) and he is sufficiently 

 experienced, then the stirrup-irons may be 

 placed, for the ball only of each foot to rest 

 upon. The length of the stirrup must be 

 ascertained, previously, by measuring. Extend 

 the thigh and leg straight downwards, and 

 fix the length by the bottom of the stirrup- 

 iron, being one inch above (shorter than) the 

 ancle. [See Appendix, A.] 



