THE GRIP 



One of the first things that used to happen to a 

 recruit when he commenced riding school was that 

 he was placed on a numnah and trotted round and 

 round the school. The object of this was to teach 

 him to grip. It was to develop his tailor muscles, 

 and to give him what is called a strong seat. I 

 have no doubt these lessons had their effect, because 

 in talking to soldiers I find that they usually believe 

 that strength is the first essential of horsemanship. 

 For this reason I believe such exercises to be 

 fundamentally unsound. 



The art of riding is quite difficult enough, and 

 we require all the assistance we can have, especially 

 in the early stages. The young rider wants con- 

 fidence, and every effort should be made to 

 make him fond of being on the back of a horse. 

 Starting recruits on a numnah has precisely an 

 opposite effect. If he falls off (most rough riders 

 take good care that he does) it does not induce 

 confidence, and the discomfort of trotting round 

 a school without stiri-ups most certainly does not 

 add to his pleasure. The idea is, of course, that 

 it develops his leg muscles. But, like all other 

 forms of callisthenics, unless the exercise is carried 



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