SEAT 



and it was impossible for him to get his leg back 

 to its right place in time for a fresh outbreak 

 when the model rose again to its proper level. 



As I would prefer an open saddle for the 

 artificial, so I do for the natural horse, and I will 

 explain why. 



I take it as a general and elementary rule, 

 there is no better position for a rider than that 

 which brings shoulder, hip, knee, and heel into 

 one perpendicular line. A man thus placed on 

 his horse cannot but sit well down with a bend in 

 his back, and in this attitude, the one into which 

 he would naturally fall, if riding at full speed, he 

 has not only security of seat, but great command 

 over the animal he bestrides. He will find, 

 nevertheless, in crossing a country, or otherwise 

 practising feats of horsemanship requiring the 

 exercise of strength, that to get his knee an inch 

 or two in advance of the correct line will afford 

 such leverage as it were for the rest of his body 

 as gives considerable advantage in any unusual 

 difficulty, such as a drop-leap, for instance, with 

 which he may have to contend. Now in the 

 plain - flapped saddle, he can bend his leg as 

 much as he likes, and put it indeed where he will. 



This facility, too, is very useful in smuggling 

 through a gap by a tree, often the most con- 

 venient egress, to make use of which, with a little 

 skill and prudence, is a less hazardous experiment 



97 



