Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-06-29
EOUESTRIANISM.


Riding or equistation has become one of
the temporary hobbies of large class of young
gentlemen of this city, and few suggestions
upon this subject will not be amiss. Riding
should be performed i'll a manner which Is
least calculated to Cypress the horse or fatigue
the rider, and which will be most secure for
both parties. The first principle in horseman-
ship is, that the horse and his rider should act
and react on each other, as if governed by one
common feeling. 10 attain this end, the
rider must acquire the knack of balancing
himself properly on the animal, and establish
ing the means of making himself understood
through certain movements of hand and body.
A good horseman will act according to the fol
lowing directions, handed down by historical
cavalry officer: 1.-The place of the riders seat is
that part of the saddle into which the riders
body would naturally slide were he to ride
without stlrrups. This seat is to be preserved
only by proper balance of the body, and its
adoption to even the most violent contractions
of the horse. In relation to the thighs,
must rest chiefly upon their division, vulgarly
called the fork, and very slightly upon the
hips The thighs, turned inward, must rest
fiat upon the sides of the saddle, without grasp
hold, and the pressure of the thighs only lifts
him above it. The knees must be stretched
down and kept back as to place the thighs
several degrees short Of perpendicular but
no grippe must be made with them, unless
there be danger of losing all other hold. Ii
the thighs are upon their inward or flat side
of the saddle, both the legs and the feet will
be turned as they ought to be. Thus turned, !
they must be on a line parallel to that OF the |
riders body, and being near the horses Sides |
but must not touch yet they may give an ad- |
1itional hold to the seat, when necessary, and |
the calves must act i'll the support of the aids !
Of the hands. The heels are to be sunk, and the |
oes to be raised, and as near the horse as the
horse. As to the body, the head must be
irm but free the shoulders thrown back and
lept square, 50 that no pull of the bride may
BRING them forward. The chest must be ad-
,anced and the small of the back bent a little
Onward. The upper parts of the arms must
lang perpendicularly from the shoulde rs, the
over parts at right angles with the upper, SO
s to form a horizontal line from the elbow to
he little finger The elbow must be lightly
losed to the hips, and, without stiffness,
ept steady or they destroy the hand. The
irst must be rounded little outwards. Tie
and should be about three inches from the
ody, and from the pommel of the saddle, and
rom four to six inches apart the thuml S
nd knuckles pointing toward each other,
nd the finger nails toward the body. When T
he rider is in proper position on horseback {
-ithout stirrups, his nose, breast knees and t
lstep are nearly in line and with stirrups, F
is nose, breast, knee and toe are in line
he man and horse throughout are to be of t
ece. When the horse is at liberty, or dis il
nited, as it is termed, the rider sits at his il
Use and, as he collects and unites his horse, b
he collects and unites himself There must, q
1wever, be no more stiffness of manner than
sitting in a chair for it is ease and elegance :,
hich distinguish the good rider E,