THE POSITION ON HORSEBACK. 



31 



look out ahead, she may not be able to communicate 

 with her horse in time to avoid accidents — as he is 

 not supposed to know where he is going, and the 

 responsibility of guiding him rests with her. 



The upper part of the body easy, flexible, 

 and straight. 



If the upper part of the body is not easy, its stiff- 

 ness will extend to other parts which should be free 

 to give to the motion of the horse, and thus avoid 

 any shock ; if it is not straight, the effect is lost of 

 the perpendicular line upon the horizontal one of the 

 horse's back, which corrects the displacement of equi- 

 librium when the animal is in motion. 



The lower part of the body firm, without 

 stiffness. 



If it were not firm, the spine would bend for- 

 ward or back from the perpendicular, and derange 

 the center of gravity, with dangerous results in case 

 the horse made a sudden bound ; but there must be 

 no stiffness, as that detracts from the ease and sup- 

 pleness indispensable to a good seat. 



The shoulders well back, and on the same 

 line. 



Well back, in order to give the lungs full space 

 to breathe, and to prevent stooping. The most 

 common fault among ladies who ride is, that the 

 right shoulder is held farther forward than the left, 

 which is not only ungraceful, but bad for the horse, 

 as the rider's weight does not come evenly on his 

 back. 



