96 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



proper way to ride. It is the only natural way for both 

 horse and rider. For the horse, the difference in taking 

 over a fence a rider who keeps his equilibrium by balance 

 and one who holds on by grip is so much in favour of 

 balance that the grip theory is completely demolished. 



At page 96 we have an illustration of a rider who, 

 riding by balance, is leaning well forward while his mount 

 makes the ascent. A line drawn from the top of the 

 rider's head to his horse's heels as they leave the ground 

 follows the centre of gravity ; the equilibrium of the rider 

 is maintained with ease ; also the weight on the horse's 

 back is in a position to be lifted with the least possible 

 expenditure of strength. 



At the same page is shown a rider taking a fence with his 

 body held in position by a grip of the legs. With him the 

 centre of gravity is far back of that of the horse; and 

 whereas the balance rider is lifted with the least possible 

 exertion, the grip rider is, so to speak, elevated at arm's- 

 length. In the one case the rider, sitting by balance and 

 entirely independent of the reins, is in the only position 

 where he can give to his mount the freedom of head which 

 is absolutely essential to perfect performance. In the other 

 case the rider, sitting by grip and, thanks to his rigid posi- 

 tion, thrown forcibly backward as the horse springs, must 

 depend on the reins for his support. 



Can any one imagine a more nearly perfect form, theo- 

 retically and practically, for man and beast, than the bal- 

 anced seat over a jump, or one more uncomfortable for the 

 man or more difficult for the horse under his rider's weight 

 than the rigid seat ? To those who think riding by balance 



