20 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



teach him to depend upon balance and friction in 

 maintaining his place. 



It will be excellent practice for the beginner to 

 use a few gymnastic exercises from the position 

 described as * the seat,' such as leaning forward 

 until his rieht or left shoulder touches the crest of 

 the horse, leaning backward until his back touches 

 the croup, and losing and regaining his seat to 

 either side without assistance from his hands. 



The stirrups should suit the seat, and not the 

 seat the stirrups : to obtain the proper lengths of 

 the stirrup leathers the rider will take the position 

 I have described as the seat, and, bringing the soles 

 of his feet parallel with the ground, fix the irons so 

 that the ball of his toes will be supported by them. 

 No effort need be made to keep the feet parallel 

 with the sides of the horse, for when the seat is 

 right the feet will find their proper position. The 

 rider should avoid bearing any weight in the stirrups, 

 and he must learn not to stiffen himself against 

 them if the horse makes an unexpected movement, 

 for that will only force his seat, and perhaps be the 

 cause of an accident. Every movement he makes 

 should be purposely, and with reason, and without 

 haste or rigidity.^ 



^ In observing the horsemanship of the Bedouins (referred to in another 

 place), I was surprised to see how closely their position on horseback 



