THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. 115 



unpleasant one to-morrow. On the one occa- 

 sion, the poor horse will receive much praise for 

 his easy motion, and on the next be highly cen- 

 sured for the roughness of his gait, for the lady 

 will not suspect that the real difficulty lies in 

 her own ignorance of a correct attitude, and in 

 her bad management of the poor beast. 



Upon the position of the upper part of the 

 body depends not only grace and pliancy, and 

 that harmony between horse and rider which is 

 so highly desirable and, indeed, necessary, but 

 also the ability to manage the reins properly ; 

 for, if the rider be not well balanced, her hands 

 w^ill be unsteady, and seldom in the right posi- 

 tion for controlling the animal. 



But the proper position of the body above 

 the saddle depends upon the correct arrange- 

 ment of the lower limbs ; if they are not in the 

 right position, the rider will lean too far for- 

 ward, or too far back, or too much to one side 

 or the other. She w^ill also lose all firmness of 

 seat, and, consequently, all safety in riding. 

 This faulty position of the lower limbs has been, 

 and still is, the occasion of much incorrect rid- 

 ing, but is a point which is seldom regarded by 

 the gentleman teacher. He, indeed, cannot 

 possibly know how the legs are arranged, when 

 they are covered by the riding skirt, and prob- 



