HORSEMANSHIP. 45 



the shoulders of the horse, and the thigh of 

 the rider. 



The middle part of the body is immovealile, 

 and naturally forms the point of rest of the 

 rider. For this rest to be perfect you must 

 advance the waist and the hips, hold the thighs 

 extended, and turned inwards, draw back and 

 close the knees, and sit upon the rump. 



On the position of the lower part of the bo- 

 dy, depends the perpendicular position which 

 is so necessary to a horseman, these parts 

 serve besides to govern the body, and the back 

 part of the horse. 



The thighs, and the hams must be turned 

 inwards, in order that the flat part of the 

 thigh may be (so to speak,) stuck along the 

 length of the quarters. The true position 

 of the legs, is to fall perpendicularly, from 

 the knee down, and to be at once free and 

 firm, for without this security, the legs will 

 be tossed against the belly of the horse, 

 and will keep him in a continual state of rest- 

 lessness ; if they are too far from the belly, 

 they will take away the facility of aiding or 

 chastising the horse properly; if too far ad- 

 vanced, they will correspond with the breast, 

 instead of the bellv ; if too far behind, thev 



