THE CROUCH SEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 5

THE CROUCH SEAT

A SOURCE OF DANGER By Sentinel

Tod Sloan revolutionised racing in England, not by riding short, but by running a race from end to end, instead of coming with a rush at the finish It is a far cry from the tongs seat of Archer s day to the perch seat in general use today. Sloan was a small man who rode short because he had very short legs. Present-day riders are out-Sloaning Sloan because they use a shorter leather than Sloan ever did. This is verified by illustrations of races at the present time. Some of the best riders in England still use a “ reasonably ”/- lengthy stirrup leather and ride with their hands above a horse's withers. Other riders have their hands almost on the bit. It is the trainers who are at fault and not the horses. They allow young riders to use a seat that is basically wrong and also dangerous. Eleven horses recently fell at Trentham in one race, probably because some of the riders could not see where they were going or how close they were riding to danger Such a disastrous fall appears to have been accepted as part of what is likelv to ha pen during the •mnnin" of a race The rule dealing witn the matter has been practically dormant si-cp its introduction The crouch seat helps to avoid wind pressure and allows liberty of action for propelling power, but it does not assist stamina because the first part of a horse to tire is the neck (supported only by muscle). Hence the neck is the last place on which the rider’s weight should be carried.