428 RACING SADDLERY. 



STIRRUP IRONS 



of racing and steeplechase saddles should have plenty of 

 room for the feet, so that there would be little chance of 

 the rider being dragged in the event of a fall. Very light 

 racing boots have no heels. As light stirrups of inferior 

 material are apt to bend from the rider's weight, and conse- 

 quently to catch on his feet, great care should be taken that 

 none but those of the very best steel be used. 



For racing saddles, the upper part of the eyes of the stirrup 

 irons should be covered with leather, in order to prevent the 

 iron from cutting the webs. 



STIRRUP LEATHERS AND WEBS. 



For steeplechasing, leathers are to be preferred to webs, as 

 they are less liable to break. 



LEAD CLOTHS. 



A trainer should have weight cloths capable of containing 

 different amounts, with their own actual weights respectively 

 marked on them. One or two cloths weighted with leather up 

 to four or five pounds, will come in useful ; and there should 

 be one, at least, capable of carrying not less than twenty-one 

 pounds, so as to obviate the necessity of putting on two 

 small ones ; for the saddle will then have less play than it 

 would have were the latter employed. 



Each pocket of the weight cloth is, usually, secured by a 

 strap and buckle for safety sake. The only objection to 

 buckles is that they prevent the flaps of the saddle and those 

 of the pannel from lying flat on the weight cloth. Instead of 

 buckles, the pockets may be secured by loops through which 

 passes a strap that is sewn to the rear part of the cloth, and is 

 attached to a buckle on its front part, which lies beyond the 

 saddle flap. If the buckle be to the rear, the rider, when using 



