152 LADIES' RIDING. 



touch the third crutch with only the point of her left 

 knee, and will consequently have a very insecure seat 

 in such a saddle. The third crutch may he made im- 

 movable ; may screw in and out ; or may be attached to 

 the tree by a hinge, so as fold down when required, 

 as proposed by Mr. Lennan, the eminent Dublin saddler. 

 This arrangement, although it may possibly be weaker, 

 is quite as convenient as that of the screw, for facili- 

 tating the packing or putting away of the saddle, 

 and does not, like the other, possess the disadvantage 

 of being liable to work loose. It may possibly be 

 safer in case of a fall. When the crutch is movable, 

 the screw, unless it be thick, and the thread particu- 

 larly deep, is apt to work loose, when it will prove 

 most inconvenient and uncomfortable. The crutch 

 should never be unscrewed, except at rare intervals to 

 clean and oil it. Many ladies consider it a great 

 advantage to be able to change the angle of the crutch 

 a little so as to ease the leg during a long ride, and 

 hence prefer the screw arrangement, which is convenient 

 when more than one lady uses a saddle, as the same 

 angle for the crutch will not suit all riders. The crutch 

 should be only sufficiently long to give a firm bearing 

 for the leg, and should be but slightly curved, except 



