THE MILITABY SEAT. 105 



And the ease and dignity of his statuettes depend on 

 the impression they make on the spectator of their 

 perfect security, and because they exhibit the rider as 

 having a perfect control over the movements of his 

 horse ; and this is what a cavalry soldier should have. 

 What can be more undignified or repugnant to good 

 taste than to put a great military leader on a horse in 

 the position in which grooms used to ride to water? 

 It disgusts, from being altogether out of character. 



But, as we have shown, the safety of the horse's back 

 and the life of the rider that is to say, the efficiency 

 of the cavalry depend altogether on perfect equilibrium ; 

 and this, we take it, is a much higher consideration 

 than appearance. Fortunately, however, what is really 

 good and to the purpose does please the eye in this 

 as in many other matters. Lastly, far from thinking 

 that a good method of riding to hounds is incompatible 

 with, or antagonistic to, a good system of military 

 riding, we believe that the former has been of great 

 use to the latter in emancipating it to a certain extent 

 from the pedantry of the old haute ecole, and laying 

 the foundation for the modern system of "campaign 

 riding," which is better adapted to our present cavalry 

 tactics. And, after all, there is not so much difference 

 between a good hunting and a good military seat as 

 many people suppose ; nor should they, on the other 

 hand, be considered identical, as many others believe, 

 the objects to be attained and the means being different. 

 And this is quite certain, that the " wash-ball seat " is 

 just as useless for the one as " tongs across a wall " is 

 for the other. Exaggeration spoils good riding, as it 

 will the best argument, and is ridiculous into the 

 bargain. 



