Horses and Horsemastership, 79 



the reins until his horse had been led a few times round 

 the school, first at the walk, and, as confidence was 

 gained, at the trot, the principles of balance would 

 dawn upon him much sooner than under the present 

 system. 



2. THE LEGS. 



Xo matter how perfect the balance may be, it is 

 ■evident that unless friction with the saddle can also be 

 maintained a secure seat on horseback cannot be counted 

 upon. Of course, while gaining a knowledge of balance 

 the reciiiit has been (it may be without his knowing it, 

 though a sore place or two invariably makes the fact 

 apparent) employing friction. But it is the proper 

 employment of friction, or grip, which alone will enable 

 him, in conjunction with balance, to counteract the 

 chances of losing his seat. 



Now, it stands to reason that the closer a man sits to 

 his saddle the greater will be the amount of friction 

 created. The whole length of the thighs from the fork 

 to the knees should be therefore employed, as far as 

 possible, in gripping the saddle ; and it is to these parts 

 alone that any rigidity, as the result of muscular effort, 

 may be allowed. Do not, however, let it be imagined 

 that I am advocating what I may call a sort of inanimate 

 fixiditv of the thio-hs. A certain amount of movement 



