MANAGEMENT OF HORSES. 241 



The best position for riding them, is between the 

 manage and the hunter's seat ; their bridles should 

 be double bitted, long and severe ; the snaffle 

 rein should be tied up on the horse's neck, and 

 only the curb used ; the stirrups should be short 

 enough to enable you to rise on them a few inches 

 above the saddle, which should seldom be done ; 

 but it is requisite they should be short, that, when 

 in the attitude of delivering the spear, you may 

 be able to sit back on the saddle, and have a firm 

 rest on the stirrups, which should then be more 

 forward than at other times, forming the point of 

 resistance to the force used in throwing the spear, 

 which will prevent the body from being carried 

 forward with it ; at the same time, it is indispen- 

 sably necessary that the muscles of the legs and 

 thighs should be exerted to keep a firm seat. 

 (The position may be seen in Plate III. fig. 1.) 



Unfortunately, many hog hunters pay more 

 attention to the hog, and the delivery of their 

 spear, than to themselves and their horses, and 

 have many mined which might be saved by a 

 little more attention to the latter, which also 

 would prevent many falls. I would much rather 

 miss a hog, or not throw my spear, lhan have a 

 fall, or my horse ripped. I do not consider that 



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