IMPORTANCE OF A FINE HAND. 235 



the motion, which we consider not worthy of an 

 argument ; but of this we are certain, that what is 

 called " riding hard," that is, not rising in the 

 stirrups, in the trot, nor leaning any weight upon 

 them in the gallop, or canter, must be extremely 

 distressing to horses, and especially to such as 

 carry high weights. 



Previously to our describing the various kinds 

 of seat, it is necessary to observe, that how well 

 soever a man may be placed upon his horse, his 

 performance upon him will mainly depend on the 

 use he makes of his hands. It is on this account 

 that old writers on horsemanship have dwelt upon 

 the difficulty of the art, rendered more so, in their 

 time, when the airs of the manege formed part of 

 it. The fact, however, is notorious, that not more 

 than one man in a hundred of those who have been 

 riding horses all their lives, has what is called '' a 

 good hand upon his horse," much less a fine one, 

 which falls to the lot of but few. When, however, 

 we consider first, that the hand of the rider is to 

 the horse what the helm is to the ship, that it 

 guides his motions and directs his course ; and, 

 secondly, that we have recourse to a severe and 

 cutting instrument, acting upon so sensible and 

 totally unprotected a part as the natural mouth of 

 a horse must be, it is at once apparent, that not 

 only a fine hand, with an easy bit, must be most 

 agreeable, and, at the same time, most serviceable 

 to the horse, in any thing he is called on to per- 

 form, but that it constitutes the very essence of 

 fine horsemanship. It has been before observed, 



