154 LADIES' RIDING. 



a sore back being the result in a short time. Owing to 

 the shape of the horse's back, it is all but impossible to 

 have the seat quite horizontal, when girthed up. 



Though the greatest care should be taken to prevent 

 the possibility of the gullet plate (the iron arch at the 

 pommel) touching the withers, as long as there is suffi- 

 cient space left to prevent such an accident, there 

 is no need to have the pommel tilted up more than 

 can be helped. The saddle should maintain its position 

 by the proper shape of the tree, and not by stuffing, 

 the presence of which is simply a necessary evil to save 

 the back from becoming chafed. The less stuffing em- 

 ployed, the less tendency will the saddle have to shift 

 its position. The saddle should be amply long for the 

 rider, both to ensure a proper distribution of weight, and 

 also to prevent a galled back. The " points " of the tree 

 should fit closely to the horse's sides — ^just behind the 

 shoulderblades — so as to prevent any " wobbling " of the 

 saddle. Ladies generally find it convenient to have the 

 seat on the near side eased off so as to allow the rider's 

 left leg to get close to the horse. Timid or unpractised 

 riders may have the seats of their saddles quilted, or 

 covered with buckskin. Any ornamental stitching about 

 a saddle certainly detracts from its workmanlike ap- 



