Riding Reflections

RIDING REFLECTIONS - BY PIERO SANTINI - INTRODUCTION - Contents - PREFACE TO THE 1933 EDITION 11. GEOMETRY OF THE FORWARD SEAT ON SITTING ON MISCONCEPTIONS ON LEATHERS ON ANGLES ON CONSTRAINT ABOVE THE BELT ARMS STRAIGHT LINES FINGERS WRISTS ON PERFECTION INSTINCT SIMPLICITY THE CRITIC 111. CONTACT V. WINGS IV. AIDS AND JUMPING V. SADDLES VI. BRIDLES AND MARTINGALES VII. CONTROVERSY VIII. BLUE, RED AND YELLOW IX. THE CHASE X. STEEPLECHASING XI. CONCLUSION page ix xi xv - Introduction - In WRITING a foreword to Major Santinis book I do so because I have for some years been a convert to his method of forward riding. When I approach a new method of horsemanship I require certain evidence that it has shown successful results. A few days instruction under Major Santini convinced me that his method was the right one. My only regret is that I did not use his style of seat while an active polo player as I believe I would have then retired with a 10 goal handicap instead of a 9 goal. After the International Polo matches before the war there were always a lot of reasons put forward to excuse the defeats of the English team. I attribute them to two reasons one is that the English players rode, and still ride, longer than the Americans the other that, largely for this reason, they lack a compact seat and a solid stance. The best American players either consciously or unconsciously confrom to Diagram A of Riding ReJections. In show jumping it has by this time been amply proved that those who have adopted the principles originally established by the Italian school have achieved the greatest success. I have also watched the efforts of children over a period of years by this time the same tenets are in general use, for they have proved invaluable not only in the show ring but also to all other forms of cross-country riding, including hunting, for people of both sexes and of all ages. With regard to steeplechasing one has only to look at the photographs to see which style is best suited to the horse.......