WEIGHT OF THE BODY. 219 



Ireland, is the " ash plant" which should be a sapling cut 

 during winter and seasoned by being hung up in a chimney, 

 or stuck into a heap of stable manure. The best saplings 

 are those that grow from the portion of an ash tree which 

 remains in the ground after the trunk has been cut and re- 

 moved. The commercial ash plant is usually as brittle as a 

 clay pipe, and therefore cannot be relied upon. The stick 

 I like best for riding, and even for walking, is the Neilgherry 

 cane ; because it is practically unbreakable, is smooth, heavy 



Fig. 195. Drawing the whip through the right hand. 



for its size, stiff, and looks well. It is neatly finished off by 

 its root-butt. A cane with knobs on it would mark a horse, 

 and is therefore unsuited for riding. 



WEIGHT OF THE BODY. 



All changes in the position of the weight of the body, 

 as an indication and help to the horse, should be effected as 

 far as possible only by the play of the joints of the hips and 

 those of the body, so that the position of the legs may not be 

 altered ; for if that were done, the security of the seat would 

 be more or less imperilled. Hence, in bending the body to 

 one side, as for instance in turning, the grip of the knees on 



