100 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



In a side-saddle, however, this resting of the horse 

 is not accomplished without a marked disadvantage 

 to the rider. For a side-saddle rider rises far more 

 gracefully and neatly when the off fore leg and near 

 hind leg are on the ground, than when the reverse is 

 true.* Mechanically the reason for this is that, owing 

 to the rider's position in the saddle, if she rises from the 

 impetus received by the off hind leg striking the ground, 

 she will be pushed outward and to the left, and go up 

 and down in a more or less churning motion, whereas, 

 if she waits for the near hind leg to push her up, 

 her left shoulder will be pushed over to the right, thus 

 counteracting any downward tendency she might have 

 toward the other side, and she will probably rise up 

 and down in a straight line.f Rising on the wrong 

 leg (commonly spoken of as being "out of time") is a 

 very common fault among beginners, and should be 

 at once corrected so that eventually it will become 

 more or less automatic to rise on the proper foot. 



It must not, however, be forgotten that unless a 

 horse has been accustomed to be ridden on this par- 

 ticular set of legs, his gait on the opposing ones may 

 be very uncomfortable, ungainly, and tiring, and in 

 many cases horses will deliberately put in a short 

 stride or two to force the rider back to rising on the 



* The truth of this statement cannot be ascertained, as might be 

 supposed, by examining the photographs of expert women riders. 

 For when being photographed a woman will, if she knows anything 

 about the game, "sit" to the trot and make no attempt to rise until 

 she is past the photographer, in order that none of the pictures will be 

 spoiled by having caught her in the air. 



t It is not, as popularly supposed, the hind leg, which is ojf the ground, 

 that gives the most impetus to the rider. On the contrary, it is the 

 propulsion of the leg which strikes the ground that, just prior to its 

 being lifted again, pushes the loin muscles of the animal up and 

 assists the rider in rising. 



