RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



than it looks. A horse will take oood care not to 

 graze his own skin, and the space that admits of 

 clearing his hips is wide enough for his rider's 

 leg as well, if he hangs it over the animal's 

 shoulder just where its neck Is set on to the 

 withers. But I would caution him to adopt this 

 attitude carefully, and above all, in good time. 

 He should take his foot out of the stirrup and 

 make his preparatory arrangements some three or 

 four strides off at least, so as to accommodate his 

 change of seat to the horse's canter before rising 

 at the leap, and if he can spare his hand nearest 

 the tree, so as to '' fend it off" a little at the 

 same time, he will be surprised to find how 

 safely and pleasantly he accomplished a transit 

 throueh some awkward and dan onerous fence. 



But he must beware of delaying this little 

 manoeuvre till the last moment, when his horse is 

 about to spring. It is then too late, and he will 

 either find himself so thrown out of his seat as to 

 lose balance and grip too, or will try to save his 

 leg by shifting it back instead of forward, w^hen 

 much confusion, bad language, and perhaps a 

 broken knee-pan will be the result. 



Amongst other advantages of the open saddle 

 we must not forget that it is cheaper by twenty 

 shillings, and so sets off the shape of his forehand 

 as to make a hunter look more valuable by 

 twenty pounds. 



98 



