Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-02
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 greenhorE
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, ~ couldn't
nde in. 1t isn't fit for man to ride in. Now,
the great beauty of the Mexican saddle is
that man sitting i'll 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 a
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 a mo-
ment to allow his casual pupil to absorb what
he had already said, sis very important
thing in learning to ride properly. In fark, 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 45 degrees from the sides of the
horse. As consequence these riders can't
have 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' reporter
who happened to be on hand inquired.
''To sit firmly on a 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 50, it is inn
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 a little when you get on your horse and
you'll See it works just rs | 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 and
gracefully, your seat will be firmer and rid
ing will not tire you near SO quickly. If you
will notice old cavalryInen when they walk"
the gentleman continued, you will see that
instead of spreading their feet apart they
keep them parallel. This is the result of
their habit of riding, and it often makes
them very ungraceful ON their feet The
best and most graceful rider | knew was
Gen. Ashby, who was killed during the war.
l never saw q man who looked so handsome
on horseback 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 4 Mexican
aStride his high curved saddle, with his legs
hanging straight down, rides easily if
he were sitting i'll 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 fiat 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 i'll a cramped
position, and is almost sure to be thrown for
ward on the horses Ieca or over his head -
Washington Star.