HOLDING A RUN-AWAY. 121 



man should get his seat under him, as much as possible, 

 and should draw the feet back, so that the knee-joints 

 may give and take with the motion of the horse. 



This method of riding is the one applicable for all or- 

 dinary work, while standing in the stirrups the prac- 

 tice of which is generally confined to the race-course, 

 being fatiguing to the rider, will only be adopted, occa- 

 sionally, to relieve the animal. 



Holding a run-away. The rider should sit well 

 down into the saddle, stick his knees into the flaps, draw 

 the feet back, bend the head and shoulders slightly 

 forward, catch the reins rather short, and should take a 

 pull, feeling his knees grip still tighter, arid himself 

 jammed still firmer into the saddle, the harder he pulls. 

 If he finds that this does not succeed, he should let the 

 horse have his head again, and should take a shorter 

 hold of the reins, catch Ids breath for a moment, and 

 take another pull, giving a turn of the wrist to wrench 

 the bit from between the animal's teeth. If this does 

 not do, he may saw the bit, and take a pull the instant 

 he finds the horse's mouth yields. 



Many bad riders, when on a puller, thrust their feet 

 forward, hump their shoulders, stick their elbows out, 

 and jam their fists in the pit of their stomach ; while 

 others keep their arms straight and throw their whole 

 weight on the stirrups. 



Turning the horse. Before turning a horse to the 

 right, or left, he should be "collected" by the rider 

 tightening both reins, a touch of the spurs being given, 

 if he requires it, to make him bring his hind legs well 

 under his body. The reins of the side, to which the 



