THE SADDLE. 61 



quire a short notice. And first of all, which is better, 

 the blanket or tlio feltplate under the light cavalry 

 saddle 1 The advantages of the former are, that by 

 folding it in different ways you may vary its thickness 

 at different points, and by this means adjust the saddle 

 not only to all the different peculiarities presented by 

 the backs of various horses, but also equally to the 

 changes of form of one and the same back, induced by 

 changes of condition. You can do nothing of the sort 

 with the feltplate ; this presupposes all horses' backs 

 alike, which is very wide of the mark ; and, moreover, 

 each individual back permanent in its form, whatever 

 change- the condition may have undergone — which is 

 equally so. The blanket men say " Yes ; and, more- 

 over, you can defend your horse from the cold in winter 

 bivouacs, and keep him serviceable for a much longer 

 time."* " Ay," say the opponents ; " but the man 

 covers himself up and leaves his horse to shiver." 

 There is probably some truth in this ; and, at all 

 events, the man is kept warm, whereas the felt can 

 never be misappropriated in this way. The advocates 

 of the felt say further, in cases of alarm the horses can 

 be saddled quicker, which is indisputable to a certain 

 extent • for whether the blanket be used as a covering 

 for the horse or man, it takes some time and two men 

 to fold it properly if once unfolded. The result is 

 this : if the felt hajjpens to fit, the horse will be 

 quickly and well saddled — if not, quickly and badly ; 



many good riders have since then expressed their conviction that 

 the girths, stirrups, and rider should be in the centre of the sad- 

 dle, that we gladly return to the old reading. 



The greatest possible luxury in the matter of blankets is, 

 however, powerless to keep horses alive whose rations consist of 

 their neighbours' tails, as in the Crimea. 



