opposed to good horsemanship. He should in no case hollow out the back, because that will produce stiffness which is the thing we should avoid. The loins (not the shoulders), on the contrary, should be slightly rounded, so as to preserve their elasticity. The chest should be kept in a natural position, without being pressed out in any way and the muscles of the pelvis relaxed, which is the only means of obtaining ease.

The weight of the upper part of the body should be carried by the buttocks, which are its only proper support. The legs should be stretched well down, the thighs flat, the knees close to the flaps of the saddle, and the toes turned slightly outwards, so that the horse may feel the leg before he is touched with the spur. When the toes are turned too much inwards, the calves of the legs will be forced outwards, and then the rider will be able to use the spurs only by prods.

The fact of the knees forming a kind of fixed pivot will give great mobility to the lower portion of the legs, which should fall naturally from the knees, and should not be kept close to the animal's sides. In order for the rider to be at his ease, he should sit well down in the saddle, without hanging on by his hands or gripping by his knees, which should grip only when occasion demands. By always gripping with the knees, the rider is made to assume a cramped position on horseback. On the contrary, the seat should be maintained by balance and not by grip. When we use the leg, we should use it from the knee to the heel. Fatigue of the muscles above the knee is caused by stiffness and is a sign that the seat is bad.

The rider will also appear cramped if his knees are too high, if too low he will rest not on his buttocks, but on the inner part of his thighs, which fact will increase the firmness of his seat, because the entire length of the legs will be applied to the horse. This seat can be used with advantage by cavalry when charging, only at the moment of meeting