INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 9 



knowledge of where the danger lies, and how it may 

 be avoided, than by a practical experience of it in the 

 shape of a fall. 



Others again, although they never followed a hound, 

 nor are likely to do so, adopt what they believe to 

 be " a hunting seat " merely because it is a prominent 

 type, and therefore caught their eye more readily than 

 the chaos that presented itself in all other directions. 

 Many of them would doubtless adopt with equal readi- 

 ness some other form that promised equal or greater 

 security and convenience, especially if they should 

 happen to discover, by the aid of a looking-glass, that 

 their copy is somewhat too much of a caricature. 



The aim of this little treatise is therefore, by appeal- 

 ing to the intelligence, common sense, and good feeling 

 of all riding men, to enable each to discover for himself 

 what best suits his own peculiar case, and will .put 

 him in a position to make the best and the most of 

 every horse he may have to ride, in the safest manner, 

 so far at least as the matters herein treated are con- 

 cerned. The intention is to refrain from all dogmatism 

 and authoritative assertions, and merely present general 

 principles, derived from mechanical laws that admit 

 of no controversy, showing their inevitable bearing 

 on the most important points, and leaving the reader 

 as much as possible to form his own judgment indepen- 

 dently, and arrive at a practical application for himself. 

 The work is therefore not intended to represent a treatise 

 on equitation or the art of riding, but merely to be a 

 plain and easily intelligible exposition of the mechanical 

 problems connected with the case of a quadruped serv- 

 ing as a bearer to a biped in other words, of a horse 

 under its rider. 



