Elements of Riding 93 



There can be no doubt about this being 

 ^'ood advice, but it does not teach the 

 beofinner the correct attitude in the saddle. 



Given the use of a saddle, the next 

 question is "should or should not" stirrups 

 be used during the earliest lessons. Both 

 these plans have their advocates. The 

 writer is inclined to the opinion that it is 

 better to do without stirrups, say, for the 

 first two lessons or so. The stirrups may 

 then be used, and the first step towards 

 this must be to have the stirrup-leathers 

 properly adjusted, otherwise little real 

 progress can be made. Graduate their 

 length in accordance with that of the legs 

 and thighs, taking care to have both 

 precisely the same length. "^ 



Sit well down on the saddle, put the feet 

 in the stirrup-irons, and press on the ball 

 of the foot through the ' natural ' weight of 

 the legs only. 



* Many stirrup leathers have now the holes numbered. 



