8 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



this very object. But even here a certain margin is 

 inevitable. It is not possible to make the Indo-Ger- 

 manic Prussians, Bavarians, French, English, or Irish 

 sit on horseback exactly like the Mongolian Magyars 

 and Turks, or the Semitic Arabs. Professor Max Miiller 

 and the author of the Adamites seem to have overlooked 

 this interesting fact. Still, the mutual relations of the 

 frameworks of the man and of the horse are such as to 

 admit of one general principle being set up, and this 

 must be adhered to as closely as possible if the real 

 end and object are not to be sacrificed to fashion or 

 prejudice. 



It is more difficult to lay down anything like a prin- 

 ciple for the guidance of that large class of men who 

 ride simply for pleasure, convenience, or health. To 

 one considerable section of them the notion of sitting 

 their horses as a riding-master is supposed to do would 

 be simply disgusting ; it would look like an affectation, a 

 sort of thing to which well-bred gentlemen have a great 

 objection. They can afford to ride tolerably safe horses, 

 and depend on their saddler and groom to a great extent 

 for the convenience and comfort of their seat. These 

 important functionaries must be often sadly puzzled 

 how to insure this, and would be probably often delighted 

 to find their employer capable of giving them some 

 intelligible hint on which they might exercise their 

 ingenuity and savoir faire with a decent chance of 

 success. 



The next section comprises those who are indifferent 

 to appearances, and merely desire to ride safely and 

 comfortably. As regards the latter point we may refer 

 them to what has been just said ; and as to the matter 

 of safety, this will be perhaps better attained by some 



