204 



PRINCIPLES OF P. VII. 



The application of the legs to hold you 

 firm to the saddle carries conviction with it. 

 —While the body indeed is upright, you will 

 find a faster hold with your legs, when placed 

 a little more backward than here directed, 

 and you might therefore be induced to place 

 them too backward; but you will perceive 

 the impropriety of this if you lean the body 

 quite back, for you can then have a firm 

 hold only with your legs, where directed to 

 be placed. 



The hand being kept low is an essential 

 thing. The hand is raised principally from 

 fear. It is either done with the intention of 

 holding on by the bridle, or of making the 

 horse rise before. 



The consequence of the latter motive so far 

 as regards the horse, is, that they raise the 

 horse's head and nose out of place, which 

 straightens his neck, and he consequently 

 cannot gather himself to rise, till he has 

 dropped his nose and curved his neck. This, 



