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OLD AND NEW RIDING METHODS. Once aain the Question of the merits and demerits of the old and the pte-enl -tyb of race riding is occupying attention. Undoubtedly the obsolete "sit-up" scat had a far more attractive appearance than lie- method one can bardlj call ii a seat— Introduced in lb.- nineties, and exploited with such suc-ress by Toil Sloan. Thai tin- old style will ever be reverted to is sol conceivable, for the simple reason thai horses can gallop taster under ihe pie-ait method of placing the saddle on the wither-, or in other words shifting the weight forward, which re -nils iii increased length of stride. What a few Inches for every stride a horse makes in a rac m. ans at the ti m-.li i- -o obvious a- to render dem oust rat ion unnecessary. Nor i- ii needful to once more point out thai ihe greatest of the old school of Jockeys, George Fordbam, vaguely realised the benefll of the forward seal, always crouching when it came io a close Bnhm. A writer in a eootera-porarj laments Hie shortcomings of the crouch which, be claim-, "reduces the sure teaching of horsemanship to a minimum." What lie means i: presumably, that the crouch knocks the bottom out of tile "id -iiie of riding, bin horsemanship and jockey-hip are two different Ihinss. Neither is it nee. --an for a Jockey la be a Maker m a Woo t ton toi his mount to run faster under the present than under the old style. - already pointed out. it i-tin- shifting of the burden forward to the place where a horse can heal carry it that results la acceleration of speed. Tben a- to the further State meal thai with Maher or. Woottoa up a home "will run kinder than trader tie- pre-American style" -w. II. ii all depend- on ibe horse. London Sports man.
