IN THE SADDLE 49 



will accomplish this, and, as a stiff car- 

 riage is most frequently the result of 

 self-consciousness, it will be desirable to 

 practise where there are no spectators. 

 As the woman becomes more accustomed 

 to riding she will lose some of her rigidi- 

 ty; but she must not go to the other 

 extreme and be limp or careless in her 

 way of holding herself. A woman's body 

 should be at right angles to her horse's 

 back, neither inclining backwards nor 

 giving evidence of a tendency to stoop. 

 Her anxiety to comply with these di- 

 rections may render her conscious and 

 awkward for a while; but if she will 

 persevere, bearing them all in mina, 

 they will become as second nature, and 

 she will follow them naturally and grace- 

 fully. 



The hands should be held about two 



thirds of the way back be- 

 Hands and Wrists 



tween the right knee and 



