Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-10
HOW TO SIT A HORSE.
An Old Cavalrymsn's Pointers to an I'm
exDerit need Rider

An Old Cavalrymsn's Pointers to an I'm
experit need Rider.
THE best riders in the world,n said an old
cavalryman, VINO was giving greenhorn
some points on equestrianism, ARE the Mexi-
cans, Buffalo Bills cowboys are splendid
riders, but the Mexicans are better still And
their superiority is in part due to the kind of
saddle they use. That low English saddle
you've got there he continued, Il couldn't
ride in. 1t isn't fit for a man to ride in. Now,
the great beauty of the Mexican saddle is
that man sitting in it has his legs almost
straight down beside the horse, like clothes
pin A Mexican on horseback keeps his
heels and shoulders nearly in line, his feet
planted firmly in his stirrups underneath
him and pointing straight ahead, parallel
with the horse Our Mcclellan saddle would
be as good as the Mexican saddle if it only
had the stirrups placed a couple Of inches
further back As it is, a man riding in
Mcclellan saddle has TO bend his leg at the
knee in the English style. Now, with the
| knee bent it is almost impossible to keep
your feet pointed straight ahead.
This position of the feet the impromptu
| riding master continued, after pausing mo-
ment to allow his casual pupil to absorb what
he had already said, lis very important
thing in learning to ride properly. In fact, it
is the thing. And yet nine-tenths of the
riders you see about the street and country
roads every day have their toes turned at an
angle of 10 degrees from the sides of the
horse. AS consequence these riders can't
have a firm seat, and don't enjoy the exer-
else half as much as they would if they rode
properly"
How is it the way the toes point has so
much to do with good ridingp q reporter
who happened to be on hand inquired.
ITO sit firmly on horse and at the same
to time have the body erect and free to give
with the horses motion" the cavalryman
said, ''you must grip the animals sides with
your knees. Not with the calves of the legs,
mind, nor with the thighs, but with the knees
alone, Now, if you don't keep your toes
pointing straight ahead, or nearly so, it is i'm
possible to get this grip with the knees. Turn
your toes out and you will find at once that
you grip the horse with the calves of your
legs and that your body is thrown forward
from the hips instead of being erect. Expert
ment little when you get on your horse anG
you'll see it works just as | say
But if you keep your feet straight
hold on tight with your knees and sit erect
you viii find you can accommodate yourself
to the motions of the horse more readily anC
gracefully, your seat will be firmer and rid
ing will not tire you near so quickly. If you
will notice old cavalrymen when they walk,
the gentleman continued, you will see tina
instead of spreading their feet apart they
keep them parallel. This is the result O.
their habit of riding, and it often make
them very ungraceful on their feet. Tn,
best and most graceful rider | knew wa.
Gen. Ashhy, who was killed during the war
Inever saw a man who looked so handsome
on horseback OFF horse, however, b.
walked like duck, and was so clumsy tina
he couldn't get into parlor without falling
over all the furniture in sight. A Mexican
astrde his high curved saddle, with his leg
hanging straight down, rides as easily as i
he were sitting in a rocking chair, and at tn
same time it is almost impossible to unsea
him He is clothes pinned on to the horse, ant
the latter can't get from under him. But
man riding on fiat English saddle will
short stirrups, his legs bent at the knee ant
his toes turned out, has no chance when hi
horse jumps suddenly. He is in cramps
position, and is almost sure TO be thrown for
ward on the horses neck or over his head. ~
Washington Star