Viii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PART I. 



SEATS AND SADDLES. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE FRAMEWOEK OP THE HORSE CONSIDERED FROM A 

 MECHANICAL POINT OF VIEW. 



The four legs are the supports of the spinal column which 

 bears the burden directly — There is one portion of the 

 spinal column round which all the others move : this is the 

 centre of motion of the horse — The head and neck project 

 beyond the basis on which the animal stands ; the position 

 of the centre of gravity modified by this — The horse's fore- 

 legs are, more particularly^, bearers, the hind ones pro- 

 pellers — The action of the horse will dej^end on the relative 

 positions of these two centres, which will be shown by the 

 hoof-tracks, and is also easily recognisable by the ear — 

 The relative positions of the two centres of gravity and 

 motion may be adjusted as the nature of the service de- 

 manded requires, by simply altering the position of the 

 head and neck ; and this is equally true whether the horse 

 be in motion or at rest, .... 19-44 



CHAPTER II. 



THE SADDLE, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SEAT. 



The saddle should beadjusted to wdiatever seat may be adopted 

 for a particular purpose, and not vice versa the seat to the 

 saddle— Its size should be proportioned to the weight it 

 will have to support j its shape should be adapted, on the 

 one hand, to the horse's back ; on the other, to the riders 

 seat and legs — The weight should be so placed as to press 

 equally over the whole under surface of the saddle ; there 

 must be no lever action ; all of which is best attained by 

 making the seat central, placing the girths also in the 

 centre of the saddle, ai^d, finally, the, stirrups as near this 



