The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-25
On Horseback,

1t is now generally understood among
good riders that, owing to differences
in build, all men cannot ride in exactly
the same form; that each man has a /
seat peculiar to himself, and that that
seat IS his best for any purpose, wheth-
er he be cross-country or road rider.
The riders ain should be to make him.
self part of the animal he bestrides
by conforming to his movements, and
thereby assist in maintaining the nat
ural equilibrium of his body. Anything
approaching exaggeration should be
avoided. For example, rising to trot Is
a good thing if properly done, in fact
one cannot ride very far or very fast
without it; but why it is carried to the
ridiculous extreme that it sometimes is
is difficult to understand, unless those
who adopt it act upon the principle that
if little rise is q good thing a good
deal is better. This lofty style, sup
posed to be English, is much carica-
tured in this country by the doubtful
class of young men known as ''dudes,"
who, not being properly ballasted, are
ready to rise to anything that will make
them cons yicuous. In riding after this
method the would be horseman, seated
on the cantle of his saddle, with knees
nearly on level with the pommel,
springs into the air with each second
impulse of the gait with a spasmodic
effort, to return again in due season
with bump that would cause rafting
in his sbrain box,n if there were any
hi To
rider has been aptly described rs q
''walking-beam on horseback, between
whom and the saddle peeps of the dis
tant landscape come transiently at tan
talizing intervals
The saddle has tuuch to do with de-
termining what position one shall as
sumo on horseback, hence the import
ance of having it properly constructed
and adjusted. Supposing the saddle to
be one that will allow you to sit in
natural, easy position, theHshake your
self down into it, place your thighs in
the position which gives you the firmest
hold on your horses sides, and adjust
your stirrups to that length. Bear in
mind that the seat on horseback is
maintained by balance and friction,
and you must combine the two in such
way as not make the effort fatiguing
if you would sit securely and well.
While as much of the thigh is to be
brought in contact with the saddle as
possible, the leg below the knee should
be altogether out of contact and free to
move as the rider finds necessary
Learn to balance the upper part of the
bA IN hh
ments of the horse, without disturbing
the position of the thighs or depending
in the slightest degree on the reins. It
is well to practise on some old horse
that can't be spoiled, using snaffie
until you feel quite at home in the
saddle and can handle the reins with
delicacy. If your stirrups are too short
or too far forward you will find your
self Juggling at the reins whenever your
horse makes au unexpected movement.
These defects should be corrected, for
rough handling of the bit soon spoils
the horses mouth. and once he becomes
puller there is an end of all pleasure
in riding him.
Very few horses can be ridden salts
factorily without curb bit, and this
requires more delicate handling still
than the snaffle. A very good way to
hold the reins in riding the trained
horse is to pass the little finger of the
left hand between the curb reins and
the middle finger between the snaffie
reins, the ends passing up over the
thumb when the hand is closed. While
training the horse, carry the curb reins
in the left hand and the snatfie reins in
the right, divided by the width of the
| hand. Teach your horse to turn from
the pressure of the curb rein against his
neck, accompanying it at first with the
customary pull of the snaffie on the
side toward which you wish to turn.
Collect your horse before reaching the
point where YOU wish to turn, and
apply the left leg in turning to the
right and the right leg in turning to
the left. Teach your horse TO walk
rapidly; it is q gait that always tells
and can be continued long time with
out fatigue THE walk is the gallon
of always" say the Arabs, and there is
much truth in the saying A good way
to teach a horse to take quick, long
step at this gait is to touch him with the
left spur, after he has become accus
toned to it, Just after he lifts his right
fore foot, and with the right spur wheI
he lifts his left fore foot This viii
make him pick up his hind feet quickly
and reach we'll forward before he plants
them.
Finally, give the boys chance to be
come fearless riders. Youth is the time
when physical habits are formed, an(
when one has been accustomedto use thu
saddle from boyhood, equestrianism i
q part of his nature, and he never feel
more at home than when OH horseback
The hope of the saddle horse is in tn,
rising generation. If the practice is de
layed until we are forced into it as
cure for dyspepsia or consumption, ant
the saddle comes to be regarded rs
sort of hospital-the last resort of a de
Gazing race-it will certainly not fill it
proper place in our social economy. /
the boys would ride more there woul
n be less consumption and dyspepsia t
o cure. This is a pleasant prophylactic
= for the boy takes to the horse instinct
lively. The taste has been handed dow
to him from a horse-loving ancestry
t. He will have some hobby, and why nc
let him learn to ride honestly? Civ
t. him every chance to acquire the mani
- art of equitation. He will be a hardie
8. and drawer man, and will have one aC
complishment which will prove a 10
to him through life. -PhiJadelphfG Pres