The Seat. 



being. But we know too well that the frame 

 of an ordinary human being is by no means 

 in its proper state, and will often be unplea- 

 santly strained and wearied by a position which 

 would be perfectly natural to a well-trained 

 athlete. And it is therefore probable that an 

 ordinary human being may require some in- 

 struction before he can assume, and some 

 gymnastic discipline before he can with com- 

 fort retain, the position on horseback which 

 experience shows to be the most secure, and 

 which an accomplished horseman would no 

 doubt pronounce to be the most natural. 



The position on horseback recommended 

 by experience may be described as follows. 

 The horseman's/0r that is to say, the space 

 between his thighs must rest upon the centre 

 of the saddle, and support the full weight of 

 his body. The necessary consequences will 

 be, that the flat or inner surface of his thighs 

 will lie along the saddle-flaps, that his spine 

 will be hollow or concave at the waist, that 

 his chest will expand itself, that his shoulders 

 will fall back, and that his head will stand 

 erect upon his neck. The arms and hands, 

 in the absence of reins, and the legs and feet, 



