22 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 



certainly anticipate all eventualities and ride 

 shorter, even when going at a walk. 



We can now tabulate the following points : — 



(1) The greater the propelling force, the further 

 must the body be forward in order to counteract 

 that force, which, without assistance, would leave 

 the rider " behind." 



(2) That in order to have the body forward, the 

 knees must be more bent or " pointed," in order 

 to maintain the equilibrium. 



(3) That when the knees are more bent (or 

 pointed) the stirrups must be shorter. 



These three axioms, however, require a little 

 more explanation. When we are merely trotting 

 along a road, we do not expect much variation in 

 a horse's stride, but when we are galloping across 

 country we do. At any moment we may meet a 

 drain, or hole, or a rough piece of ground, which 

 will cause the horse to alter the uniformity of his 

 speed. In the gallop he is proceeding by a series 

 of bounds covering, say, six feet; when reaching 

 a small obstacle he may clear it by increasing 

 his stride to fifteen feet, or he may suddenly check 

 his speed and then make a big leap. On such 

 occasions, unless we had anticipated such even- 

 tualities, we should find ourselves suddenly " left 

 behind." 



When we are expecting the horse to make a 

 jump of any size, we can expect him to clear 

 twenty feet or even more, and then the force of 

 propulsion is extreme. 



The question, therefore, that we have to consider 



