272 HOW TO RIDE A HORSE. 



moment's consideration would have proved the contrary, 

 and for this reason : the point of union between a man and 

 his horse, as well as the centre of action, lies just behind 

 the shoulder blades, which, as must be apparent to every 

 one, is the strongest part of the horse's body, and where 

 the sack of wheat or flour is placed by the farmer or mil- 

 ler. With short stirrup-leathers, the seat of the rider is 

 thrown farther back on the saddle, instead of being exactly 

 in the centre of it, and consequently his weight is thrown 

 upon the part approaching the loins, — the weakest part of 

 the body, and very easily injured. From the same mis- 

 taken notion was the saddle formerly placed nearly a 

 hand's breadth from the shoulders, which, of course, added 

 to the mischief" 



In military riding, the stirrup-straps are nearly as long as 

 they can be reached by the ball of the foot. In cross-coun- 

 try riding, on the contrary, the strap is considerably short- 

 ened and the foot is placed home, — that is, the stirrup is car- 

 ried in the hollow of the foot. This gives greater security 

 to the seat, and lessens the risk of loosing the stirrup in 

 leaping. The seat, in pleasure-riding, should be a compro- 

 mise between these two. Various directions are given for 

 the length of the stirrup, such as that the stirrup should 

 hang opposite the ankle joint when the leg is extended 

 downward ; that the leg should be extended, the toes raised 

 as much as possible, and the stirrup adjusted to the position 

 of the ball of the foot, when so placed ' or, that when 

 the ball of the foot is in the stirrup, the rider cao, keep- 

 ing his ankle still bent, so raise himself as to just clear 

 the pommel. Practically, the best direction is, for the 

 rider to carry his feet in the position that is most comf )rt- 

 able to him, provided that it does not greatly vary from 

 any of the foregoing, and that it does not cause his seat, in 

 riding, to be behind the middle of the saddle. The proper 



