THE GRIP 75 



the saddle, and came down with a hard thump as 

 the horse landed. Of course, if the horse swerved at 

 all he would be completely unhorsed, but generally- 

 speaking the horse jumped perfectly true, and he 

 was able to continue his round. As a matter of 

 fact he did some capital performances, and if it 

 was not an exhibition of riding in its best sense, 

 it showed that he, at least, had grasped the great 

 principle of freedom for the horse from the moment 

 he takes off to the moment he lands. The result 

 was that his horse jumped very cleverly and well, 

 and seldom touched a fence. 



This brings me back to the statement that if 

 only riders can arrange never to interfere in any 

 way with a horse as he jumps, the horse will jump 

 clean and true every time. We can interfere with 

 him in only three ways : by the reins, by the 

 body, and by the legs. Give the horse complete 

 freedom in all three particulars, and then if his 

 early education has been good we will find him 

 slipping over fences in a way that will surprise us. 



It may be said that if balance is the whole basis 

 of horsemanship, there must be great variation 

 in style, owing to the varying conformation of 

 individuals. 



This is most certainly true, and every rider must 

 adjust his seat to his conformity. If he is well 

 proportioned, his seat should be a good one. If 

 he is not so blessed by nature, he may not look 

 so well in the saddle. 



I have already mentioned the fact that we only 

 grip when we are in disagreement with our mount, 



