lo RIDING, DRIVING AND KINDRED SPORTS 



become a second nature, and give to the seat 

 in times of difficulty or danger the unconscious 

 easy strength which is invahiable. Let us con- 

 sider, then, what are the points to be attended 

 to. Having mounted old Dobbin, let us ride 

 quietly along, resolutely determined to hold the 

 bridle as lightly as though the bit were made of 

 rotten pack-thread, and would break at the 

 smallest pressure. Then adjust the stirrups till 

 you are comfortable and feel that you have the 

 greatest security and assistance possible from 

 them. This, it is true, will be a hole, or perhaps 

 two, shorter than you ought to ride, but the 

 length will come later. Different men and 

 different horses require varying lengths of 

 stirrup leather, but it may be said generally 

 that a man should ride as long as possible. 

 That is, so that he can when sitting at ease, 

 kick his feet free of the stirrups at any moment. 

 If your nerve is a little out of order on a cold 

 morning when going out hunting, you will 

 often feel an inclination to take up the stirrup- 

 leathers a hole or two higher than you usually 

 have them, but you are pretty sure to let them 

 out again before the end of the day if all goes 

 well. 



Having, at all events, got the stirrups at the 

 right length, on Mr. Jorrock's excellent principle 

 that what is most " com-f-ble for the man " will 



