_4- 



Ride your horse in the mildest bit in which he will go 

 to your liking, keep your reins long, and your hands 

 wide apart. "Throw in a strong seat and good hands, 

 and there are very few horses that will not go where 

 and as you mean thern to. 



A really strong seat can be acquired by any active 

 lad who gives his mind to it. Long steady trotting in 

 a saddle, without stirrups, goes a long way towards it. 

 This, however, must be persevered in, or it does not 

 strengthen and develop the riding muscles; moreover, it 

 is useless unless the rider sits properly. The grip 

 must be got entirely with thigh and knee; if the toes 

 are turned out and a grip obtained with the back of the 

 calves, the exercise is without effect, for the wrong 

 muscles are then brought into play. 



Let me give two instances from my Argentine ex- 

 perience, to 'show to what perfection strength in the 

 saddle can be brought, or, rather, strength on a horse, 

 since both feats were on the bareback. The first 

 exhibited sheer strength of seat such as I have never 

 seen equalled; the second, absolute perfection of 

 balance and grip combined. 



A "bagual" had been caught up, as I wished to try my 

 very 'prentice hand at breaking. low, a "bagual" has 

 never been made a pet - he will not eat sugar out of your 

 hand. ^e is at least five or six years old, and there- 

 fore strong, and he has come in contact with man but 

 twice in his life, once when lassoed and knocked over to 

 be branded, and once for another operation. The mares 

 in my day were never ridden or broken. This particular 

 "bagual"' was very violent - smashed a lasso and knocked 

 men about freely. So violent was he that I gladly fell 

 in with the suggestion that a more experienced rider 

 should mount him for the first ride. Argentine methods 

 of breaking are abrupt, and the first ride is given 

 directly the animal is caught - as soon, in fact, as a 

 piece of raw hide can be tied in its mouth as a bit and a 

 saddle got on its back. 



