176 THE HORSE. 



between the balance and the seat mav be thus marked. 

 The balance is the centrical or equilibrium position of 

 the body, whatever may be the motion of the horse. 

 The seat is the horseman's firm hold of the saddle, 

 when he is liable to be thrown over the horse's neck, 

 or to fall backward over his tail. 



" To preserve the balance, it is evident the body 

 of the rider must keep in the same direction as the 

 horse's legs ; e. g. if the horse work straight and up- 

 right on his legs, the rider's body must be in the 

 same upright direction ; but when the horse bends 

 or leans, as when working on a circle, or trotting 

 round a corner, the rider must lean in the same di- 

 rection or proportion, or his balance will be lost. 

 The balance, indeed, may be preserved by a different 

 seat ; but the seat will not be secure. 



" The hand — (Adams continued) : If the hand 

 be held steady as the horse advances in the trot, the 

 fingers will feel by the contraction and dilatation of 

 the reins, a small sensation or tug, occasioned by the 

 measure or cadence of every step. This, which is 

 reciprocally felt in the horse's mouth, by means of 

 the correspondence, is called the appui ; and while 

 the appui is preserved between the hand and the 

 mouth, the horse is in perfect obedience to the rider, 

 the hand directing him with the greatest ease, so 

 that the horse seems to work by the will of the rider, 

 rather than the compulsion of the hand. The hand 

 thus possesses a considerable power, independently 

 of other aids and assistances, more than sufficient to 

 controul and direct a horse that is broke and obedient. 



" I return to Berenger, for a few practical ob- 

 servations on the functions of the hand. Hold your 





