STIRRUPS. 17 



that my modest advice may render such accidents rare in 

 the future. 



Standing on the stirrups is like standing on a spring-board, 

 in which case, if any violent movement is produced by the 

 horse, the rider is liable to be shot forward as if from a 

 catapult, and always on to his head. Even when the horse 

 plunges forward, the rider will be rarely unseated if he is 

 sitting well into the saddle, with the weight resting on his 

 seat. Then the worst thing that can happen to him is to be 

 shifted on to the horse's neck, in which case he will fall 

 softly ; but if he is bearing his weight on the stirrups, with 

 his legs straight, nothing will be easier for the horse than to 

 send him between his ears. When the rider adopts this 

 faulty position, his body is carried forward, and the horse is 

 able to plunge as he likes, on account of the weight being 

 taken off his loins. 



The rider who stands on his stirrups is in the position of 

 a gymnast standing on the hands of a comrade, whose busi- 

 ness is to give him the necessary propulsion for making a 

 dangerous leap. In order for him to be projected very far, 

 it is necessary for him to keep his body and legs straight, 

 but if he bends his knees he cannot go far. The stirrups 

 play a role similar to that of the hands of the gymnast who 

 is ready to give the propulsion. Hence, if the rider bends 

 his knees he will remain in the saddle. 



We should bear in mind that if the pupil, before his legs 

 have got well down, is allowed to use the stirrups, he will not 

 be able to keep his feet in them. He will then make all sorts 

 of contortions in order to retain them, in which case, not only 

 the muscles of the legs, but also those of the body and face, 

 will become contracted, and the neck and the shoulders will 

 assume a characteristic form of stiffness. 



Notwithstanding all the care which the teacher may take 

 later on to correct these faults, the pupil very rarely succeeds 



2 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



