94 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



may be and probably is best for the most efficient hand- 

 ling of a sabre, but no such position is necessary in riding 

 across country. The requirements in the hunting-field are 

 of another sort. For taking a fence the length of the 

 stirrup-leathers should enable a rider standing in his stirrups 

 just to clear the pommel easily with his crotch, — which 

 may be necessary when the horse is in the act of jumping, 

 — and to sit well back in his saddle as the horse makes 

 the descent. The shifting of the centre of gravity of the 

 rider's body, forward during the upward spring, and well 

 back on the descent, cannot be accomplished with long 

 stirrup-leathers. The military seat, with long stirrup- 

 leathers, has no place in the hunting-field, where there is 

 jumping to be done. We shall notice this more fully 

 when we speak of riding by balance over fences. 



The best position of the legs, as of the arms, is that 

 which is most natural and at the same time gives the 

 stirrup-leathers length in which to alter a rider's position 

 forward and backward in negotiating a jump. Shorter 

 stirrup-leathers than this are useless, besides impairing the 

 symmetry and ease of the rider. The best form for legs 

 in cross-country riding is with the foot turned neither in 

 nor out more than is perfectly natural, and the leg from 

 the instep to the knee perpendicular to the ground. With 

 the stirrup-leather of proper length, the hollow of the legs 

 between knee and calf will then fit the horse's body at 

 the fullest part. This position gives the rider's body the 

 greatest amount of sitting surface, erect and well back on 

 the saddle, which for hunting should be longer in the seat 

 than for ordinary riding. (See illustration, page 92.) 



