SADDLING. lyj 



under the animal's elbows, when he is being girthed up. 

 The groom, when he has drawn the girths tight, should 

 run his finger between them and the skin, from the near 

 side to the ofif, so as to smooth out any wrinkles. 



Some horses swell themselves out on being saddled, 

 and consequently require to be walked about for a short 

 time, after which the girths will have to be taken up 

 afresh, before the rider can mount without incurring the 

 chance of the saddle shifting its position. 



For safety sake, the spring bars of a saddle should 

 be kept always open. When they are so, there is not 

 the slightest chance of the stirrup leather coming out, 

 unless in the case of an indifferent rider, who puts all 

 his weight en the stirrups, and who happens to perform 

 in a very hilly country, or to scramble up a steep bank. 

 The locks should be kept well oiled, if they be closed 

 when used. 



When a girth is too long, it may be shortened by 

 taking a fold of the webbing near one end, passing the 

 tongue of the buckle through it, and then attaching 

 the buckle to one of the off girth tugs. This should be 

 only a temporary measure, as it is apt to spoil the 

 webbing. 



A stirrup leather looks neatest on a saddle when the 



