278 The Book of the Horse. 



the arm ; but very often this is found too long or too short, as arms do not bear an invariable 

 proportion to legs. The only way to arrive at the best length for the stirrups is for the 

 rider to mount, sit down in the middle of the saddle, and adjust the stirrup-leathers so that 

 he feels firm in them and able to get his heels down a good inch ; not so short that his legs 

 are cramped, and that he is forced back in the saddle into a position which makes it most 

 easy for a kicker to send him over his head. For this reason an adult pupil should take 

 pains to purchase a horse of the size that will suit his length and shape of his limbs. 



As to the positioh of the lower limbs, " the nearer the whole of the leg is brought to the 

 horse's side the better, so long as the foot is not bent below the ankle-joint."* 



So soon as the pupil begins to feels confidence in walking, trotting, and cantering slowly 

 in a school, before he enters on the mysteries of managing his horse — a delusion in early lessons, 

 for the school-horse knows his business, and the pupil does not — it is well to commence practice 

 in the motions which involve the body below the hips being firmly attached to the horse, the 

 body above the hips flexibly moving ; learning, while still riding first slowly and then fast, 

 to touch the croup of the horse with the shoulders, to bend down and put on and take off 

 either stirrup, and in fact to go through the exercises which are taught by the best modern 

 military riding-masters. 



The whole aim of teaching horsemanship is expressed in the i&v^ words which I have 

 heard Mr. George Darby, of Rugby, ex-steeplechaser, repeat hour after hour while teaching 

 his young children (girls as well as boys riding astride) in his school in Kensington — 

 " Shoulders back." " Waist slack." "Heels down." "Hands down." "Walk. Trot. Canter. 

 Gallop ! " 



Until the back-bone ceases to be rigid, and the waist becomes hollow without effort, }-ou 

 cannot have a horseman's seat. 



MOUNTING. 



In a previous chapter I advised middle-aged pupils to mount as best they could from a chair 

 or a bucket, if a horse-block was not to be had. The correct way of mounting is delineated 

 in the following drawings of the four actions of a man able to bend his knee, standing near to 

 the shoulder of an averaged-sized English horse. Some men could no more assume the attitude 

 of Mr. George Rice in these pictures than they could walk along the tight-rope. They are 

 obliged to stand back in order to get their toe into the stirrup. 



But the first thing is to mike the horse stand still, a lesson every good hack ought to learn ; 

 but even when learned, not always repeated by a fresh and excited animal. 



If there is any difficulty, shorten the off or right-hand rein, until the horse's nose points 

 towards his right shoulder ; in that position he cannot move, and if possible put his head against 

 a wall or gate. Mr. G. Nevile recommends that young horses should always be mounted in the 

 stable-yard with their heads against the stable door, until they learn to stand still without being 

 held. 



If the horse is too tall for a short rider, and no convenient eminence near, the stirrup- 

 leather may be let down two or three holes, and taken up again when the rider is mounted ; 

 but if this expedient is likely to be required, the holes of the leathers should be punched large 

 enough for the buckles to pass through easily, and punched not as usually on the outer, but 

 the inner side of the leather. The " White " stirrup-leather is very convenient for short men. 



• Nolau. 



