24 Horse and Man. 



quickness. This, however, is not all. Stir- 

 rups are of the greatest use in making the 

 horseman's seat easy and comfortable, and in 

 enabling him to ride fast and long without 

 fatigue. The proper method of using them 

 ought therefore to be carefully practised by 

 every equestrian novice. 



Even at a walk the assistance of stirrups is 

 far from unimportant. You will soon find it 

 intolerably wearisome to keep your thighs and 

 legs always grasping the saddle ; not only be- 

 cause the muscles thus used will become tired, 

 but because by fixing yourself in your seat 

 you greatly increase the play of your waist 

 and loins with the action of the horse. You 

 will find it almost equally fatiguing to let 

 your legs dangle loosely in the position deter- 

 mined by their weight. But by stretching 

 down your heels and pressing the stirrups 

 steadily with your feet, you will not only re- 

 lieve the limbs themselves, but will prevent 

 your body from incessantly writhing and 

 working as the horse steps along. 



At a trot at least at a full trot the use 

 of stirrups is almost indispensable. Without 

 them the fatigue of the steadiest horseman 



