284 RIDING OVER A COUNTRY. 



back a little. We all know that Dollery is one of the finest 

 'cross-country riders that ever lived. Poor Mawson, though 

 full of pluck and good judgment, had not a very strong 

 seat. Both jockeys in Fig. 213 are riding with the reins at 

 a proper length. 



The rider should avoid the trick of raising one hand ; for it 

 is not only ungraceful, but it also deprives him of the assist- 

 ance of that hand at the very moment it may be most 



Fig. 214. Leaning well back. 



required. The tell-tale trick of catching the cantle of the 

 saddle, unless, perhaps, over a deep drop jump, is reprehen- 

 sible on the same account, and is also dangerous in the event 

 of the horse happening to fall ; because the rider might 

 not get clear if the animal were to roll over. The ten- 

 dency of an inexpert or inexperienced rider, when coming 

 up to a fence is almost always to bend his body forward, and 

 to thrust out his feet in front. If the feet be held forward 

 when the horse lands on the other side, the resulting jerk of 

 the feet on the stirrup irons — as the knees will then be neces- 



