THE MILITARY SEAT. 223 



all exercises, I have little doubt. Despite of all 

 the vile stuff that finds its road down his throat, 

 who ever heard of a bilious post-boy 2" To this 

 might be added, the no small advantage a person 

 mounted on horseback derives, from breathing a 

 purer air than when on foot, and consequently- 

 nearer to the ground. The salutary effect of the 

 motion of a horse, also, on a sluggish or diseased 

 liver, is acknowledged by all medical men. 



We shall now take a view of horsemanship in 

 the only forms in which it is at present applied to 

 any useful or pleasurable purposes — namely, mili- 

 tary, hunting, racing, and on the road ; leaving the 

 art of instructing horses for the Circus to those who 

 find it profitable to fit them for it, which we admit 

 they do to very great perfection, though we fear 

 not without the necessary privation and punish- 

 ment unavoidable in such kind of instruction ; or, 

 in other words, in making animals perform far 

 more, we conceive, than the Creator of them ever 

 intended they should perform. 



The military seat approaches nearer than any 

 other to that of the manege ; and, by reason of the 

 horse-soldier having, in general, but one hand to 

 hold his bridle with, is one which gives him great 

 command over his horse, without disturbing his 

 seat. He sits well down in his saddle, on his fork, 

 or twist, with his body erect, and in perfect equili- 

 brium with his horse ; his legs well stretched down 

 the sides, with a firm pressure of the calves, as 

 well as of the knees and thighs, and the feet firm 

 in the stirrups. But it is not by any one of these 



