XXIV. 



Requirements of a good saddle. — A good saddle should 

 satisfactorily meet the following requirements: 



(1) The padding should be done in a way to secure 

 perfect balance of the saddle. Too high behind, the 

 saddle will throw the whole weight of the rider into the 

 stirrups. Too high in front, it will throw him back and 

 diminish the grip of the thighs and prevent proper set of 

 the knees. 



(2) The pommel arch should be wide enough to allow 

 the saddle to be used on nearly all horses and to be set 

 far enough back. 



(3) The seat should not be too fiat and the rider should 

 not feel the outer edges of the bars of the tree under his 

 thighs. 



(4) The straps for the girth should be set well forward. 

 If the line of traction of the girth were too far to the rear 

 the saddle would rock and, rising in front, would work 

 up toward the withers. 



How a horse should be saddled. — The saddle should be 

 placed far enough back, but it is impossible to give any 

 fixed rule. Its proper place depends upon the confor- 

 mation of the horse. A horse with a good back and a 

 well-marked prth place is easy to saddle; it is the reverse 

 in the case of one with short ribs or big belly or hollow 

 shoulders. 



The matter of saddling, although often neglected, is 



of great importance. Everything in riding hinges on 



balance, and balance will be handicapped from the start 



if the rider is seated too close to the withers and is unduly 



overloading the forehand. 



79 



