Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-12
HOW TO SIT A HORSE,
An Old Cavalryman's Pointers to an In.
experienced Rider.

''The best riders in the world" said an old
cavalryman, who was giving a greenhorn some
points on equestrianism, ''are the Mexicans.
Buffalo Bills cowboys are splendid riders but
the Mexicans are better still. And their supe-
riority is in part due to the kind of saddle they
use. That low English saddle you've got
there" he continued, II couldn't ride in. II
isn't fit for man to ride in. Now, the great
beauty of the Mexican saddle is that a man
sitting in it has his legs almost straight down
beside the horse, like q clothes-pin. A Next
can 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
II 1t 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
pointed straight ahead.
This position OF the feet" the impromptu
riding-master continued, after pausing a mo-
ment to allow his casual pupil to absorb what
he had already said, is a very important thing
thing. And yet nine-tenths Of the riders you
see about the streets and country roads every
day have their toes turned at an angle of As
degrees from the sides Of the horse. As a con-
sequence, these riders can't have a firm seat,
and don't enjoy the exercise 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 riding?" a STAR reporter who
happened to be on hand inquired
TO sit firmly on a horse and at the same
time to have the body erect and free to give
with the horses notion" 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 II you don't keep your toes pointing
straight ahead, or nearly SO, 1t is impossible 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, in
stead OF being erect. Experiment a little when
you get on your horse, and you'll see it works
just as say. But if you keep your feet straight
hold tight with your knees and sit erect you
will find you can accommodate yourself to the
motions OF the horse more readily and grace
fully, your seat will be irmer and riding will
not tire you near so quickly.
IF you will notice old cavalrymen when
they walk" the gentleman continued, "you
will see that instead of spreading their feet
apart they keep them parallel. This is the re-
suit OF their habit of riding, and il often makes
them very ungraceful on their feet. The best
and most graceful rider knew was Gen. Ash
by, who was killed during the war. 1 never
saw any man who looked SO handsome on horse
back. OF Of horse, however, he walked
like duck and was so clumsy that he couldn't
get into parlor without falling over all the
furniture in sight.
"A Mexican astride his high-curved saddle
with his legs hanging straight down rides as
easily as if he were sitting in rocking chair,
and at the same time it is almost impossible to
unseat him. He is clothes-pinned on to the
horse and the latter can't get from under him.
But man riding on fat English saddle with
short stirrups. his legs bent at the knee and his
toes turned out, has no chance when his horse
jumps suddenly. He is in a cramped position,
and is almost sure to be thrown forward on
the horses neck or over his head"