KNOCK-KNEED CHILDREN 



that for years afterwards they could not be induced to 

 mount a pony, and in one instance the child never quite 

 recovered from the effect. 



Confidence is the one thing which is of the very first 

 importance ; this having been implanted in the child, 

 the addition of constant practice will do more to com- 

 plete the education than any theoretical instruction on 

 the subject. By degrees the leg soon acquires the 

 shape necessary to afford the grip required by the calf 

 and the thigh, and a perfect seat may thus be secured 

 without the aid of stirrups. 



Even where children are at all inclined to be knock- 

 kneed, the increase of such formation may be prevented 

 by the use of the above method, though of course in 

 such cases a little extra trouble and patience are neces- 

 sary. I may say that I have known knock-knees 

 made straight by a child having been taught to ride 

 by this system ; but the practice must be constant, 

 and the assistants must be taught to press the heels of 

 the child (the toes being turned in) as closely as 

 possible to the belly of the pony. Thus, in time 

 the limbs will become sufficiently bowed to enable 

 the child to ride quite as well as many children whose 

 legs are properly shaped. The use of stirrups should 

 be withheld until a perfect seat and proper command of 

 the pony have been acquired. I have never known 

 children cured of knock - knees in any one single 

 instance in which stirrups have been allowed them, 

 though I am fully aware that in many such instances 

 they have learned to ride well in after-life ; but I 

 have ever observed that people who have been so 

 taught to ride invariably sustain more injury from 

 falling than those who have been taught without 



