Introductory Chapter, 21 



avoid the serious and but too common error of using 

 up one set of members prematurely whilst leaving the 

 others intact. For instance, nothing is more frequent 

 amongst ourselves than to see horses otherwise perfectly 

 sound irreparably ruined in the fore legs. 



Moreover, there exists an equal variety in the build 

 of the riders, which also requires consideration. Dr. 

 Heavysterne cannot be expected to sit his horse as Mr. 

 Threadpaper can do, nor a well " split-up" man like 

 one that is built on the lines of an otter ; nevertheless, 

 there is no reason why each and all of them should not 

 sit well and judiciously, though their seats must be ne- 

 cessarily different. There is only one class of riders 

 from which one must and can demand a great degree of 

 uniformity — namely, cavalry. The necessity arises from 

 the existence of a special and narrowly-defined object 

 being to be attained — the possibility, from the fact of 

 both men and horses being selected with reference to 

 this very object. But even here a certain margin is 

 inevitable. It is not possible to make the Indo-Ger- 

 manic Prussians, Bavarians, French, English or Irish 

 sit on horseback exactly like the Mongolian, Magyars 

 and Turks, or the Semitic Arabs. Professor Max Miil- 

 ler and the author of the Adamites seem to have over- 

 looked this interesting fact. Still, the mutual relations 

 of the frameworks of the man and of the horse are 

 such as to admit of one general principle being set up, 

 and this fjtust be adhered to as closely as possible if the 

 real end and object are not to be sacrificed to fashion or 

 prejudice. 



It is more difficult to lay down anything like a prin- 

 ciple for the guidance of that large class of men who 

 ride simply for pleasure, convenience or health. To 

 one considerable section of them the notion of sitting 

 their horses as a riding-master is supposed to do would 

 be simply disgusting ; it would look like an affectation, 



