The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-14
WORKMANSHIP.

In an interesting article on fox hunting, the
London Quarterly Review gives some excellent
hints on. horsemanship, one or two of which will
not come amss to riders who are not fox-hunters:
Four-ffths of the art of horsemanship depends
on attaining proper seat, and one-ffth on possess
ing a pair of light hands. The generality Of
riders are apt to sit on their horses in bent atti-
tutc, and when man rides in this toad-like posi-
ton he travels already, at moments notice, to
describe parabollc curve over his horses head,
should the animal take notion TO stumble and
fall, and the result is likely to be conclusion of
his brain or dislocation of his neck--the horse
standing by uninjured. On the other hand, when
a man sits upright, evenly balanced on his saddle,
any sudden jerk or movement forward throws his
shoulders backward. IF the horse falls, the ami
NAL is the sole sufferer; the fore part of his body
becomes a buffer, preventing the conclusion from
injuring, in the smallest degree, the rider. If a
horse only trips, rider justly poised in his saddle
can easily recover him. The instant he is down,
however, the rider should vacate his saddle, as the
momentum of the animal will probably cause him
to roll over. In leaping fence, too, if the rider
sits properly on his saddle, the horse and not he
receives the conclusion of any fall that may ensue
simply because the spring of the animal, in taking
the leap, had thrown his shoulders backward, and
his head out of danger; whereas, if the rider had
assumed bent attitude his nose would have been
seen ploughing mother earth the moment the mug
zle of his horse inpinged upon it, In the year
1913, Major General William Yorke Moore, of
the British army, rode over preciplce OF two
hundred and thirty-seyen feet perpendicular
height, on the island of Dominica, and escaped
with his life, although every bone in his horses
body was broken The accident occurred in the
evening Three men had previously been dashed
to pieces at the same place, and fourth met SINH
lar fate subsequently, when the Colonial Assembly
uol
not the General preserved an erect position and
chung to his horse, his life would have paid the
forfeit. His recovery from the shock of the fall
nearly as miraculous his escape from in
slant death. If horse be but properly dealt
with he can gallep down turf hill with as much
rapidity along race course. He should be
couraged by loose rein to carry his head as low
as possible, to enable him to take care of his feet,
and in oftreading a rolling stone to recover
his balance by throwing it up. If the rider fol-
lowing the instinct and example Of the horse,
throws his weight backward, the descent can be
made at considerable speed without the smallest
danger. The horse must not be allowed to at
tempt to descend the slope diagonally, as he Will
inevitably slip up on his side. His head must be
guided raight onward, but care taken not to in
duce him to raise it up Seated in the attitude de-
scribed, Jack Shirley, whipper-in to the Todworth
hunt, day observed fixing piece Of whip
cOfu TO MS laSH While lOlIOWlnS LIS nOuHuS at q
slappng pace, down hill, with large open clasp
knife in his mouth, his reins lying nearly loose on
his horses neck. Another advantage of riding in
upright position is that after aw lille the muscles
of rider lose their obstnacy by getting tired
and it becomes impossible for him to prevent his
body undulating, to the infinite relief of both par
ties, with every movement of the horse; whereas
if, like an English jockey, he rides like a frog on
a shovel, he inficts upon his whole frame. as we'll
upon the poor animal that carries him, an
amount Of unnecessary fatigue which prematurely
tires both. Another qualification of good horse
man-especially in fox hunting when fields and
pastures are to be riden over-is to allow the
horse to carry his head at its natural level, and
not to rain it up, as is the general CUSTOM SO that
he will lose the habit of using his eyes to ascertain
the character of the ground over which he is
travelling. If given free scope in this respect the
horse will easily avoid holes, stones, and other
dangerous instructions even in fields and woods,
and ifnot refined up at chance stumble. will learn
to depend on himself, and rarely fall if he happens
to make mis-step. ---- -.