GENERAL KULES. 303 



nearer the rider's seat is to that point or centre of motion, 

 the less will it be liable to disturbance from the violent 

 efforts that ensue. If he sits further back towards the 

 loins, his weight being there will interfere with his 

 management of a rearer or a backer, and expose him 

 directly to the action of a kicker ; if, on the contrary, 

 he sits close to the horse's withers, he unduly over- 

 weights the forehand, and loses most of his control over 

 the hind legs. Let us compare together, for instance, 

 the upper and lower figures of Plate V. on the supposition 

 of the horse's wheeling sharp round suddenly ; those of 

 Plate VI. on the supposition of their attempting to rear 

 or kick ; and those of Plate VII. on that of their 

 attempting to back against the will of their respective 

 riders. As to the hindermost figure of Plate III. , selected 

 purposely to illustrate an exaggeration, he can do 

 nothing with his horse. 



As regards the position of the rider's legs, the upper 

 figure of Plate V. and the lower one of Plate VI. sprawl 

 them out forwards, and the upper one of Plate VII. 

 sidewise, with stiff knees away from the horse's ribs, 

 so that they must alter their ivhole seat when they 

 require to give the spur, which must be applied in this 

 position with a stab, instead of growing, as it were, out 

 of and being the climax of the pressure of the calf, the 

 importance of which we have seen. 



The position of the rider's body from the hips upwards 

 is by no means indifferent. The getting-up the horse's 

 head and neck to the required position demands a 

 certain amount of fixity of the spinal column, for the 

 work to be done by the arms brings into play the 

 muscles of the entire back. The rider that comes into 

 antagonism with his horse is only then safe in his seat 



