20 HORSE AND MAN. 



opposed to good horsemanship. He should in no case hollow 

 out the back, because that will produce stiffness which is the 

 thing we should avoid. The loins (not the shoulders), on the 

 contrary, should be slightly rounded, so as to preserve their 

 elasticity. The chest should be kept in a natural position, 

 without being pressed out in any way, and the muscles of 

 the pelvis relaxed, which is the only means of obtaining ease. 



The weight of the upper part of the body should be carried 

 by the buttocks, which are its only proper support. The legs 

 should be stretched well down, the thighs flat, the knees close 

 to the flaps of the saddle, and the toes turned slightly out- 

 wards, so that the horse may feel the leg before he is touched 

 with the spur. When the toes are turned too much inwards, 

 the calves of the legs will be forced outwards, and then the 

 rider will be able to use the spurs only by prods. 



The fact of the knees forming a kind of fixed pivot will 

 give great mobility to the lower portion of the legs, which 

 should fall naturally from the knees, and should not be kept 

 close to the animal's sides. In order for the rider to be at his 

 ease, he should sit well down in the saddle, without hanging 

 on by his hands or gripping by his knees, which should grip 

 only when occasion demands. By always gripping with the 

 knees, the rider is made to assume a cramped position on 

 horseback. On the contrary, the seat should be maintained 

 by balance and not by grip. When we use the leg, we should 

 use it from the knee to the heel. Fatigue of the muscles 

 above the knee is caused by stiffness and is a sign that the 

 seat is bad. 



The rider will also appear cramped if his knees are too 

 high, if too low he will rest not on his buttocks, but on the 

 inner part of his thighs, which fact will increase the firm- 

 ness of his seat, because the entire length of the legs will be 

 applied to the horse. This seat can be used with advantage 

 by cavalry when chargmg, only at the moment of meeting 



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