262 



PRINCIPLES OF 



P. IX. 



length of stirrup, though it would raise you 

 sufficiently from the saddle to ride in the stir- 

 rups for a while, yet would not be found short 

 enough for a long gallop. 



The stirrup must be shortened to prevent 

 the bottom coming in too close contact with 

 the saddle. 



It must likewise permit you to stoop the 

 body forward to go under boughs of trees 

 and the like, without losing your centre of 

 gravity, and thereby abandoning your horse. 



Therefore, from the above position, if you 

 stoop the body forward, and preserve the 

 centre of gravity, and the powers of support- 

 ing your horse, you are necessitated to sink 

 and thrust the rump out behind. 



Were you to stoop your body forward, 

 without thrusting the rump out behind, you 

 could not support your horse; and if you 

 thrust the rump out beyond the proportion 

 that the body is projected forward, you im- 



