GIRTHS. 227 



owner came again, was shown and had explained to 

 him the defects of the saddle, he decided at once to 

 reject the pattern, the sole merit of which, to him, con- 

 sisted, probably, in the unusual dip of the seat, which 

 was obtained at the expense of the horse, who was 

 unable to complain about his muscles being made to 

 ache by the unequal distribution of weight. 



Girths. — Fitzwilliam girths, which consist of one 

 broad girth attached to the saddle by two buckles at 

 each side, with an ordinary-shaped girth over it, are 

 perhaps the best for general work. Those made of 

 plaited or twisted raw hide, which are usually called 

 Australian girths, and others made after the same pattern, 

 but of cord, answer extremely well. Being formed of 

 open material, they save the part over which they pass 

 from becoming heated, and consequently chafed. A 

 capital girth, for colonial work, may be made from a 

 broad leather strap, slit lengthwise into several divisions, 

 and furnished with two or three buckles on each side. 

 The strap may be cut out of the middle of the hide. 

 It may be soaked in neat's-foot oil to make it pliable. 



A girth buckle should be divided by a bar across 

 its underneath surface, so that the point of the tongue 

 may lie flush with the buckle, and that the tongue be 



Q 2 



