Horses and Horsemastership. 11 



equitation, which would prove of considerable value as 

 an attraction to recruits for the mounted forces, and 

 which, properly managed, might be made entirely self- 

 supporting. 



The proper methods of mounting and dismounting 

 can be so easily acquired that I shall not deal with 

 them, but shall at once proceed to deal with my subject 

 under the sub-headings of — 1, The Seat; 2, The Hands; 

 and 3, The Legs. 



1. THE SEAT. 



That part of our anatomy which it is usual to sit upon 

 is comprised of three bones. In the saddle the weight 

 of the body should be equally distributed between them, 

 for if this is not done the correct poise or balance, upon 

 which so much depends, will be rendered more difficult 

 to attain. Tlie first thing, therefore, to remember is 

 to "sit square," i.e., well down on your seat, shoulders 

 well back, so that the chest is thrown forward and the 

 small of the back hollowed, at the same time avoiding 

 as much as possible anything approaching rigidity. 

 Balance and friction (i.e., grip), with the stirrups thrown 

 in, are the factors which together go towards giving a 

 man a good seat on a horse. A gxeat deal more 

 importance must be attached to the two former than 

 to the latter. The proper balance has first to be ac- 



