Cross- Coimtry Riding. 41 



been performed by soldiers of both the French 

 and Italian armies, especially in the line of hill 

 climbing and precipitous jumps. 



It takes considerable nerve (I have never 

 been accused of a lack of it) to advance a theory 

 in regard to riding directly in opposition to the 

 well-known theories so long in practice in Eng- 

 land, and I shall doubtless be hauled over the 

 coals for doing it, but I want to go on record 

 right here as opposing the grip seat in hunting 

 and cross-country riding. I have tried both the 

 grip, as used in England, and the balance seat, 

 as used in America, and I am prepared to say 

 that there is no earthly comparison either for 

 the horse or for the rider when comfort and 

 safety are considered. 



It would be a difficult task to convert our 

 English cousins to this style, as they have in- 

 herited it for ages from sire to son, but it was 

 just as hard to convince them that the seat of our 

 jockeys, so entirely different from their own, 

 was the correct one. Though Sloan, Reiff, and 

 other pioneer jockeys were severely criticized, 

 they continued to win until now the English 

 jockey seat is almost a duplicate of our own. 



While the English are undoubtedly slow and 

 thoroughly hard to convince, they are neverthe- 

 less genuine sportsmen, open to conviction, and 

 I expect to live to see the day when they will ride 

 in the hunting field by balance, although it is a 



