THE SEAT. 23 



towards each other, the little fingers exactly under the 

 thumbs, with a rein in each hand, as I have before men- 

 tioned in the previous lesson. The inside of the thighs 

 from the knee upwards, well turned round and close to the 

 saddle, the knee in the centre of the flap and bent, the legs 

 must hang easy by the horse's sides, without constraint, 

 with the foot exactly under the knee, and the stirrup of 

 such a length that the bar which supports the foot should 

 touch the rider's ankle when he is seated, with his legs 

 properly placed ; thus the calves of his legs are to act with, 

 and aid the hands; they are also ready to assist and 

 strengthen the seat, if necessary. The ball of the foot 

 should be placed on the stirrup with just sufficient pres- 

 sure to retain it under the foot, for he is a bad rider who 

 depends on the stirrup, the heels well pressed down, which 

 to be in the correct position, should be two inches lower 

 than the toes ; and the toes turned to the front. 



The rider being mounted and properly seated, I must 

 caution him that he is to sit steadily, with his reins divided 

 ready to move on, and prepared to keep his seat if the horse 

 should plunge ; but should he show any reluctance to move, 

 the rider is not to resort to harsh treatment, by using the 

 whip or spur, but sit quietly on his back, and let the men 

 that have been assisting him to mount, lead him forward, 

 patting him for every act of obedience. If he shows any 

 temper which he is very unlikely to do, if he has been kindly 

 and properly treated in his former lessons, the two men 

 will be sufficient to hold him by keeping up his head, or 

 halting him, and letting him stand still a few minutes, that 

 he may feel what he has on his back, then moving him on 

 a few steps more, patting him frequently : with this treat- 

 ment, he will soon settle to his work ; but on no account 

 whip or spur him, for more horses are rendered restive by 

 the violence and impatience of their instructors, than by any 

 other cause. They seem not to reflect, that they ought not 

 to punish the horse for not doing what he has not been 

 taught to do. 



