224 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



rally, and without constraint ; they should not be opened out, nor strongly raised or pressed 

 togetljer. The whole surface of the foot must rest on the bottom of the stirrup. The heel must 

 be dropped so as to stretch tlie muscles of the thigh, but not so much as to stretch the calf of 

 the leg or the ankle joint ; for upon the mobility of the ankle depends, not only keeping the 

 stirrup, but also the falling back of the thigh into its proper place after each step of the horse. 

 Although the whole inner surface of the thigh must be flat on the saddle, it must not be stiff 

 and constrained. 



When the lower part of the leg hangs naturally, the toe is a little turned out. 



The foot is thrust into the stirrup as far as the ball of the great toe, and must rest lightly on 

 the bottom of the stirrup. The vertical plane through the centre of gravity of the body must 

 pass through the heels, by which means the rider has more power, and the knees produce more 

 effect. 



In riding without stirrups, the thighs must be well extended and the knees lowered, so that 

 the rider may not cling to the horse with the calves, and may have the buttocks firmly on the 

 saddle. The spine should be vertical above the hips. The back of the rider must be elastic, 

 but firm ; because this is necessary in using his weapons, and also to break the violence of the 

 blow caused by the motion of the horse, particularly at a trot, and the rider is thus prevented 

 from being tossed up from the saddle, shaken, or strained. A firm back is also necessary to 

 resist the forward motion of the horse ; and it is to be borne in mind that the peculiar construc- 

 tion of the joints of the sjjine admit of a forward motion to a much greater extent than in the 

 opposite direction. Since the rider's hands are in absolute connexion with the mouth of the 

 horse, he is iiuUcd forward by a horse heavy on the hand, or bearing on the bit, and finds him- 

 self unable to control such an animal unless his back is firm. 



In long marches, the fully armed soldier is, in consequence of fatigue, mucli inclined to throw 

 the body forward. 



These are good reasons for giving great attention to a good, upright, firm, and elastic car- 

 riage of the si^ine. 



The shoulders must be sunk, and both blades thrown back, not to such an extent as to stretch 

 the muscles of the breast, but merely to expand it freely; if the shoulders are raised, the breast 

 is contracted, which is injurious to the health. 



If one shoulder is lower than the other, the corresjjonding hip is drawn inward, and vice 

 versa. The head must be carried easily on the shoulders, and the chin slightly raised ; if the 

 head is thrown too far back, the position of the spine is injured ; if it is bent too far forward, 

 the shoulders are rounded, and the rider's field of view contracted. 



In the beginning the reins are placed in both hands, each rein passing through the whole 

 hand. 



The upper part of the arm, without pressing against the body, hangs near it, naturally, 

 straight, and freely ; if the elbow is pressed against the body, the shoulder is raised, and the 

 position of the hand becomes constrained and unnatural ; while, if the elbow is thrown out too 

 far from the body, the hand becomes unsteady. 



The fore arm is lightly closed on the body, the hands so rounded at the wrists as to bring 

 the thumbs opposite each other, and the little fingers somewhat towards the body ; the hands 

 are held, with the fists closed, 4 inches apart, and just above the pommel. The outer hand is 

 a hand's breadth higher than the inner. 



To acquire a light, firm hand, the slight pressure of the fore arm against the body is neces- 



