70 Horse and Man. 



ward, the weight of your bust to prevent you 

 from falling forward, and the suppleness of your 

 waist to prevent you from falling sideways. 

 These plain truths you must thoroughly rea- 

 lize. Learn to hollow your waist and throw 

 back your bust without a moment's hesitation 

 whenever your horse makes an irregular move- 

 ment, in the perfect confidence that your legs 

 will catch the saddle in time to prevent you 

 from rolling over his quarters. Once acquire 

 this instinct, and you may defy the various 

 wily manoeuvres by which, like a wrestler 

 playing to get his lock, a vicious horse will 

 endeavour to tempt you into a position which 

 he feels will enable him to kick you over his 

 head. 



Always bear in mind, during this part of 

 your progress, that there is one important 

 difference between a start and a plunge. If 

 a shying horse unseats you, it is by mere ac- 

 cident. He only wishes to avoid going in a 

 particular direction. He knows, as I have 

 already explained, that your hands cannot 

 prevent him from doing this ; and there- 

 fore he does not attempt to alter his bearing 

 upon the bridle. But a horse which plunges 



