THE LENGTH OF THE STIRRUP 25 



To have the stirrups pushed forward is an 

 extremely common fault. When this occurs, it 

 means that the foot ceases to be the fulcrum. 

 The fulcrum has then become the knee, and the 

 body is only kept in position by a knee grip, 

 which merely means that the rider is forced to 

 overcome the insecurity of hisjpoise by muscular 

 effort, trying not only to 

 himself but to his mount. 

 So that before we proceed 

 further with this dis- 

 cussion, it must be 

 thoroughly understood 

 that in riding, as well as 

 in any other exercise, the 

 balance of the body starts 

 from the feet, and that 

 the stirrup iron repre- 

 sents the ground upon 

 which we stand, and from 

 which point the rest of 

 the body is adjusted in 

 accordance with the rules of balance. 



Consequently, for all practical purposes, we must 

 remember to keep the stirrup leather perpendicular. 



Bearing this in mind, we will now see what 

 effect the seat in various parts of the saddle will 

 have upon the length of the leather. 



Looking at diagram No. I, it can easily be seen 

 that position A is the only one which is approxi- 

 mately correct. Position B is one where the rider 

 has only slipped back three or four inches, and his 



Diagram I 



