THE SIDE SADDLE. 



153 



just towards the end, which may be turned-in a httle. 

 A long crooked crutch is very dangerous in case of a 



fall. 



The seat of the saddle should be level, and be without 

 any hollowing-out, in order to avoid an unpleasant drag 

 on the rider's right leg ; while the shape of the tree 

 should be regulated so that it may have a correct bear- 

 ing alon^ the muscles of the back, and to obviate the 



Fig. 14. 



risk of its end touching the backbone— an unpleasant 

 contingency which frequently occurs with common-made 

 saddles. When the saddle, as it is often made to do, rises 

 too much in front, or when the tree is too short and 

 flat, the cantle, in the gallop or canter, is forced down- 

 wards and backwards, so that the skin, just behind the 

 saddle, is liable to be rumpled and bruised at each stride, 



