SEATS. 71 



shoulder, and then a convex one over the shoulder. 

 The former of these has no adaptation whatever to the 

 curve of the rider's thighs, and this he cannot change '> 

 to remedy which, the fashion of padding the saddle- 

 flaps was introduced. Sir F. Head says it is going out 

 again. The effect of this padding or increased thick- 

 ness between the rider's leg and the horse's body is, 

 however, to bring the former, from the knee downwards, 

 right away from the latter, as anyone can see who 

 looks at this kind of rider from the front ; and it is 

 therefore evident that the greatest amount of adhesive 

 surface is obtained by placing the stirrup nearly under 

 the rider, and making the tread on it perpendicular, 

 instead of in an acute angle with the horizon. 



There is another point to be considered. Is there 

 anything gained by the rider's leg from the knee 

 downwards being in close contact with the horse's 

 body at the midship section, or lost by its being just 

 behind the shoulder, whether in or out of contact ? 

 The gain is simply this, that in the first case we can 

 exercise immediately an absolute control over the 

 horse's hind legs, and make him place them as we 

 please and these being the propellers, we have entire 

 mastery; whereas the loss occasioned by the stirrup 

 being far forward consists in our generally coming 

 much too late with our leg, when we have occasion 

 to use it in this way, the horse having swerved right 

 round before we can get at him and compel him to go 

 ahead ; in our having to pull right against the stirrup- 

 leather ; and, worst of all, in our being compelled to 

 loosen our whole seat, in consequence of our thigh- 

 bones refusing to bend. The effect of these two posi- 

 tions of the stirrups and forms of seat on the stability 



