Seats. 73 



and artistic contortions of his lower extremities, each 

 and all of which have their partisans and admirers. 



We set out with the declaration that we have no 

 desire or intention to set up any one kind of seat as a 

 model ; but this is no reason why we should not try to 

 find out and lay before our readers what are the real 

 essentials, leaving them to adopt whatever suits their 

 purpose best. Now the seat on horseback is main- 

 tained either by balancing or by friction — that is to say, 

 the greater or less amount of the rider's sitting parts 

 brought into contact with the saddle — or by the support 

 given by the stirrup ; and it is easy to perceive that 

 such a combination of all three means as leaves each 

 individual 07ie its greatest amount of efficiency will 

 necessarily secure a much greater amount of stability 

 than can be attained by depending on one to the neglect 

 of the other two, or even depending on two in such a 

 manner as to sacrifice the third. The best and safest 

 seat will be always that which depends exclusively on 

 no one means of support, but uses them all in the best 

 manner. 



In order to answer the question, Which of the three 

 is the most important? it becomes necessary to review 

 the positive value of each in detail ; and first as to 

 balance. 



It has been shown, in the preceding chapters, to what 

 an extent the action of the horse depends on the balance 

 or poise of rider and bearer taken together, and how 

 every modification of the latter affects the former, and 

 therefore, that not only some one particular poise must 

 be adopted, but also maintained, for each kind of riding. 

 Again, it has been shown that the stability of the saddle 

 and the safety of the horse's back depend to a great 

 extent on the stability of the rider's weight — that is to 

 say, on his poise or balance. In addition to these two 

 items comes a tliird one — namely, the value of poise or 

 7 



