132 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



slightly arched forward. The legs also should be as motion- 

 less as possible, and nearly perpendicular from the knee 

 downwards ; but, if anything, a little forward, the heel being 

 well depressed and the toes very slightly turned outwards. 

 The shoulders should always be square — that is, at 

 right angles to the road taken ; and whether trotting or 

 galloping, neither of ttiem should be advanced before the 

 other. 



If a man contemplates becoming a perfect horseman, he 

 should consider in what way his riding will be chiefly 

 required, and make himself master of that. If he only con- 

 templates road riding, if he acquire a neat, easy, and firm 

 seat, with good hands, he will do well enough; and having 

 gained these, he may be satisfied. If he means to be a 

 hunting man, he will find it will require a still firmer seat, 

 stronger arms, and far stronger nerves, without which he 

 will never become a " workman " across country ; and, as to 

 race-riding, no man need hope to arrive at any perfection 

 as a jockey, unless from a boy he has been more or less in 

 the habit of riding race-horses. 



There are two things all but indispensable to the man 

 who wishes to become perfect as a horseman — good nerve 

 and good temper; without the first, he will want confi- 

 dence ; and without the second, he will neither have 

 patience to be taught himself nor to teach his horse. 



So far as seat is concerned, a great deal depends on the 

 formation of the man. With very few exceptions, short, 

 chubby-made men never make neat horsemen ; and without 

 any exception, such persons can hardly possess an easy and 

 graceful seat. Such men are usually very round in the 

 thigh ; a formation much against a firm seat, without 

 which no man can be a good horseman. 



Huntsmen usually sit more down in their seat than 

 gentlemen do. This arises from their keeping a constant 

 eye on their hounds, which they can have with that seat more 

 than they could standing in their stirrups as a jockey does. 

 Huntsmen are apt to sit a little oblique on their horse. 

 This is caused by their riding much with the rein in one 

 hand, which hand is usually held rather more forward than 

 other men hold it, so as to enable them to have more 

 command over the horse ; which is quite necessary for a 

 man to have who has to get through thick covers at the 

 risk of having his own and his horse's eyes cut or knocked 



