RIDING TO HOUNDS 247 



same identical seat and length of stirrup, for they 

 have had to take chance mounts from the begin- 

 ning, and are therefore taught in a practical 

 manner to sit prepared for any vagaries their steed 

 may display. 



Q, Can you describe this position ? 



A. The stirrups are shortened sufficiently to 

 bend the knee enough to get a firm grip with the 

 inside of the knee-joint and upper part of the leg, 

 the heel being kept down and back, so that if a 

 line was dropped from the point of the knee it 

 would just touch the junction of the foot and leg. 

 Such a position ensures the rider being prepared 

 for anything a horse may do, such as rearing, 

 bucking, shying, kicking, or stopping suddenly 

 dead in his tracks. Some evil-disposed horses 

 can change from one malpractice to another 

 marvellously quickly, and unless the balance is 

 perfect, the rider must be unseated, for no grip 

 can avail if once the balance is lost, and the horse 

 continues his pranks. This length of stirrup can 

 be gauged, when the rider is mounted, by letting 

 the legs hang down to their full stretch, and then 

 allowing the bottom of the stirrup to barely touch 

 the upper part of the instep. When the foot is 

 well home in the stirrup, the rider should be in a 

 position to use his maximum power ; and since 

 much of the weight of the body will rest on the 

 thighs, it is well distributed to the advantage of 

 the horse. 



Q. What evil consequence is likely to ensue 

 if the stirrups are too long ? 



A. A powerful kick, or a series of them, may 

 send the rider over the horse's head ; and a bad 

 blunder at a fence may also cause the same 



