The New York herald., 1922-12-10
BOOK Is WRITTEN
FOR NOVICE RIDERS
BarettO de Souza's Element
airy Equitation' a Treatise
on HOrsemanship.

Baretto de Souza's new book, ''Ele-
mentary Equitation," just published by
e. p Dutton & Co., might aptly have
been entitled, with apologies to old John
Lawrence. "A Philosophical and Prac-
tical Treatise on Horseback Riding"
Count de Souza. for such is the title Of
the veteran student and instructor of
horses and their riders, has written for
beginners~ but in doing so he has gone
into the reasons for everything concert
ing seat and hands and the management
of horses in way that has seldom been
equaled by any writer on equitation,
and that is likely to be informing as
well as interesting to past masters of the
art Analysis plays an important part
In the learning of anything at ALL" he
says in his final chapter. and he has
written to this purpose from the begin
ing to the end Of the book. The one
hundred illustrations from drawings by
Victor Nickol are unusually well done
text and providing object lessons for the
reader.
The author says In his preface that
he was moved to write Of first principles
in horseback riding by the lack of
knowledge on this subject among riders
in New York and particularly one Of
his pupils. a girl of 10. who had
learned SO much that was wrong by
three seasons of horseback riding at a
regularly organized summer camp.
In his chapter on Correct Position OF
the Rider and the Reason Why the
author asserts that he has never known
a horseman who rode with body erect
to complain Of digestive troubles. He
takes a fall out Of the English and
American army men, cowboys and polo
players for not sitting on their horses
In the proper manner, especially-as to
the position Of the legs. He says the
legs in order to have that firm flexi-
bility enabling the rider to easily fol-
low the horses motions and yet have
secure hold on his back should describe
slightly obtuse angle. just sufficient to
let the lower limb conform to per-
pendicular line from the knee to the tip
Of the toe.
The American army rule Is, or was,
that the perpendicular line be from the
knee to the ball Of the foot and the Eng
lish from the knee to the heel. Both
are wrong because they give too straight
leg for supple firmness of seat. I'm
polo playing" he says. "only the hapds
are used and oftener than not IN re-
voltingly brutal manner, while IL polo
were correctly ridden, the players would
use the legs in conjunction with the
and thus they would not damage their
horses mouths, as too often occurs now
adays.
Directing the beginner about riding
at the trot the author says: Contrary
to the bad custom prevalent probably
all over the United States the novice
rider must not be allowed. still less
taught, to rise to the trot. otherwise
called posting. He must learn at first
and during quite while be made to sit
to the trot as closely, as firmly and.
above all, as fexibly as possible" The
purpose is, as he explains further on. to
accustom the rider to sit his horse cor
rectly, with body erect and with less
firmly yet fexlbly carried and used.
under difficult circumstances. To keep
at II for six months of daily riding
before he learns to post will. Mr. de
Souza says, give him an elegance ana
grace In the saddle easily above fhe
average good rider.
Those who ride for their health, ana
this includes very large percentage OF
all equestrians In and about New York
and other large cities. will be Interested
in the many pages devoted to health
giving fiexious exercises and positions
In the saddle. This theme runs all
through the book and 1t Is one to which
the author has given long study. The
ahapter on Correct Behavior Under Ger
tain Circumstances" "Sundry Advice to
Riders" and Rewards and Punishment"
are full Of good suggestions which Will
be read with profit by beginners and
with interest by all horsemen.