HORSEMANSHIP 1 1 



In all humane probability be " most com-f-ble for 

 the orse," the next point is to get your seat right. 

 The proper place for the man in the saddle is 

 obtained by bringing the seat of his breeches 

 well under him, and the leg will then fall into the 

 right position, the knee and toe being so placed 

 that as you look down you can just see the 

 point of the boot in front of the knee. The leg- 

 should be free from the knee down unless in 

 emergencies or when jumping a big place, when 

 by slightly drawing the leg back and turning the 

 toe out a little the calf will o-Ive a consider- 

 able additional grip. The whole of the inside 

 of the leg should be close to the saddle, the 

 exact surface in contact with the saddle being 

 somewhat determined by the shape of the man, 

 the cut of the saddle, and the make of the horse. 

 Yet as time goes on and we ride regularly, 

 endeavouring to get a grip with the inside of the 

 thigh, the muscles will dev^elop and we shall be 

 able to hold on without any effort. Just at first, 

 too. It Is desirable to look square to the front — in 

 fact the old riding-master's maxim I remember 

 as a boy, to look straight between the ears of 

 the horse, is a good one. After a time an easy, 

 flexible carriage of the figure in the saddle will 

 come by Itself. At first it is well to avoid 

 slouching, or poking out the chin, and to 

 err rather on the side of stiffness than the 



