HINTS ON RIDING 93 



unsurpassed, which I suppose, from a military point 

 of view, is of the greatest importance, but for finish 

 in riding on the flat, or performing over the jumps, 

 we most certainly do not compare favorably with the 

 English, French, and Belgian cavalry, all of whom ride 

 with much shorter leathers. 



Moreover, whatever might be said about the merits 

 or demerits of long or short leathers when used by a 

 man; on a woman's saddle they must be judged sepa- 

 rately and by themselves. Since it is illogical to use 

 the cowboy's seat and saddle as an argument in favor 

 of long leathers, inasmuch as it doesn't take into 

 account the difference of conditions, requirements, and 

 shapes of the saddle, how much more illogical is it to 

 use the cowboy, or any other similar argument, in 

 reference to the length of leathers on a woman's side- 

 saddle, which bears no possible resemblance to any 

 other known saddle. Clearly, the case must be judged 

 solely by a woman's particular needs. 



It goes without saying that were a woman to ride 

 with an excessively short leather and maintain her seat 

 by grip alone, she would be bound to be placed in a 

 most awkward and cramped style. She would be apt 

 to push her right shoulder forward and be thrown too 

 far forward at the trot, when her body ought to be in a 

 perpendicular line. Whereas, at the gallop or over the 

 jumps, where she ought to be well forward, she would 

 be unable to assume this position. Moreover, owing 

 to the fatigue that such a seat would entail, it would 

 eventually render her insecure in the saddle because 

 of the tiring of the muscles. To go to the other ex- 

 treme, however, and lengthen one's leather so as to 

 be riding entirely by balance, though it may be prefer- 

 able, is equally foolish. In doing so a woman is un- 



