THE SEAT ON HORSEBACK. 123 



side, and she must guard against this by bear- 

 ing slightly toward his right. From the knee 

 to the foot, the right leg must be in contact 

 with the fore-flap of the saddle^ the heel being 

 inclined backward a little. 



The left knee should be placed just below the 

 third pommel, so that this will span it lightly, 

 close enough to assist in preserving a firm seat, 

 yet not so close as to interfere with the action 

 of the leg in the English trot. From the knee 

 to the foot this left leg must be held in a 

 straight line perpendicular to the ground, and 

 the knee be lightly pressed against the side-flap 

 of the saddle. The ball of the foot must be 

 placed evenly in the stirrup, the heel being a 

 little lower than the toes, which should be 

 pointed toward the shoulder of the horse. (Fig. 

 20.) 



If the rider will seat herself in the saddle in 

 the manner just described, she will find that she 

 has a very firm seat, from which she cannot 

 easily be displaced ; but in order to appear 

 graceful she must be flexible, and adapt herself 

 readily to the motions of her horse. The shoul- 

 ders, for example, although thrown back, must 

 not be rigid, and the body, while erect, must be 

 supple ; the head be upright and free, and, in 

 the leap, or w^hen circling in the gallop, the body 



