THE HUNTING SEAT. 331 



and the firmest, for all general purposes ; and, when once 

 adopted, can easily be modified by lowering the heel, lengthen- 

 ing the stirrup-leather a trifle, and riding with the ball of the 

 foot instead of the hollow of the instep, on the bar, into the park, 

 parade, or half military seat. 



The hunting hand is necessarily the best of all hands ; be- 

 cause the safety both of horse and rider depends on it, in every 

 position ; and on it — more even than on the seat — except in so 

 far as the seat affects or does not affect the hand — does the ex- 

 cellence and success of the rider consist. 



Lastly, because a man, who can ride a horse right well across- 

 country, must necessarily be able to sit and to handle any horse, 

 any where — because he must be absolutely master of himself 

 and of his horse, in all conceivable cases and positions ; and be- 

 cause he will readily be able to adoj)t any other style of riding, 

 and adapt himself to it, whenever it may be required ; because 

 he must, to be a good across-country rider, have fully estab- 

 lished a perfect seat on his horse's back independent of his 

 hand, and a perfect hand on his horse's mouth, independent of 

 his seat. The accompanying sketch shows, as nearly as possi- 

 ble, a perfect seat for across-country riding, or for general road- 

 riding of a trotting horse, when the horse and rider are both at 

 rest. 



For parade or show-riding the stirrup should be a little longer, 

 the ball of the foot, at the insertion of the great toe, should rest 



