128 



SADDLERY. 



plished chiefly by the bars accurately conforming to the 

 shape of the weight-bearing surface of the back, and not by 

 an inordinate amount of stuffing in the panel. It is evident 

 that if the bars do not fit the back, a proportionately large 

 quantity of stuffing will be needed to afford an even bearing. 

 There are two kinds of panels, namely, the ordinary panel, 



Fig. 131. 



Lord Lonsdale's System of Girthing. 



and the short (or half) panel. The former extends down 

 nearly as low as the bottom of the flaps. The latter (Figs. 

 131 and 132) stops short a little below the points of the 

 trees, and slopes upwards and backwards towards the seat. 



The advantages of the short panel are that it is the 

 lighter of the two, owing to less material being required in 

 its construction, and that it allows the rider's legs to get 



