LEADS. 249 



while the girth strap passes through the latter. This 

 arrangement will prevent the cloth from slipping back- 

 wards. It has no tendency to slip forwards. 



The leads should be thin and very pliable, and may be 

 covered with washleather, on which it is convenient to 

 mark their respective weights, which will average about 

 \ lb. There should be a few light leads to make up 

 exact weight. In order to obtain increased pliability, 

 leads of half the ordinary thickness may be sewn up 

 in pairs. Leads are covered with washleather, to prevent 

 them from slipping out of the pockets of the cloth. 

 They should be provided with " tags," so that they may 

 be readily removed, if required. 



Weight Jackets and Belts. — Instead of a weight cloth, 

 a weight jacket may be used, in case the trainer wants 

 to keep a trial "dark." The jacket should be made to 

 fit tight, and should have pockets round the body to 

 contain leads. In this way a stone or more may be 

 carried. A shot belt may be used, for the same purpose, 

 around the waist ; it should be supported by shoulder 

 straps. For a race, and particularly for a steeplechase, 

 a weight cloth is much to be preferred to a weight 

 jacket, as the latter impedes, and often hurts, the rider 

 by the leads striking against his sides. 



