Saddle with Stirrups v. Numnah 135 



rups V. no stirrups with a Riding Master who was 

 brought up in the no-stirrup school. He told me 

 that when he gave private lessons he always allowed 

 them, as he found that his pupils left him if he did 

 not. This brings out the human side of the question. 



If the irons are dispensed with it is much better 

 to carry out the instruction on a numnah : I have ex- 

 perimented with both. The pupil is nearer to his 

 horse and the friction from contact with the num- 

 nah is very much greater than is obtainable on a 

 stripped saddle ; which has, however, one advantage 

 over the numnah in that it gives a firmer hold to 

 the hands of the beginner who is in difficulties. 



If he is on a numnah, the beginner, who naturally 

 has no idea of balance, always keeps himself from 

 falling off by grip and by the aid of the reins if he 

 has them: the former very soon tires him to the 

 extent of his having to be dismounted for a rest, be- 

 cause he has no stirrups to relieve the strain. Those 

 pupils who have not been previously strengthened by 

 a course of gripping exercises are unable to main- 

 tain the correct position of the leg for any length of 

 time, and it soon relapses into the attitude shown in 

 Plate XVI, when muscles which are almost useless 



