TWISTING STIRRUP LEATHERS. 149 



remains in the saddle, unless he puts his weight on the 

 stirrups, and happens to perform in a very hilly country, or 

 to scramble up a steep bank. 



The following is a useful plan for causing a stirrup iron 

 to remain at right angles to the side of a horse, in case the 

 rider's foot comes out, so that he may readily pick up the 

 iron again : Twist the leather in the direction the hands of 

 a clock proceed, if on the near side, and vice versa, until it 

 is shortened to about two-thirds of its original length ; pull 



Fig. 152. Twisting Stirrup Leather. 



it hard down (Fig. 152) ; and let it go. On regaining its 

 usual position, the leather will be found to have received a 

 twist which will keep the iron at about right angles to the 

 horse's side (Fig. 151). An unskilful rider who loses a 

 stirrup, often finds great difficulty in catching it again with 

 his foot if it happens to lie parallel to the horse's side, and 

 he will naturally feel " all abroad," if his horse plays up, or 

 if he is trying to negotiate a jump, unless he has the support 

 of both stirrups. It goes without saying, that when the 



