SADDLES. 221 



leathers are suspended. The sweat flaps are the pieces 

 of leather which are placed under the girth straps, on 

 each side, to prevent the sweat working through. D's 

 are small semicircular metal hoops which are attached 

 by chapes (short leather straps) to the front or back of the 

 saddle for strapping on a coat, shoe case, etc. Staples 

 are somewhat similar in size and shape to D's, but are 

 firmly fixed to the tree. 



The chief points to be considered about a saddle are 

 that it should be of a suitable fit for the horse's back, 

 and of a proper size and shape for the rider. If 

 well made, it will be long enough, without being 

 too heavy. Its length should, as a rule, be propor- 

 tionate to that of the rider's thighs. A bad rider may 

 require extra weight in the tree, so as to afford him 

 a broad and roomy seat, while a good horseman may 

 well dispense with such aid. Short saddles are most 

 objectionable, both on account of their curtailing the 

 surface over which the weight of the rider is distributed, 

 and also by their tendency to give horses sore backs, 

 as I have pointed out in my 'Veterinary Notes for 

 Horse Owners,' page 185. 



The saddle, between the points of the tree, should 

 accurately fit the horse, so that it may not be liable to 



