146 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



with perspiration, it becomes hard, irritating the 

 horse's back, and producing sores, and then it is 

 worse than no cloth. The leather cloth has the dis- 

 advantage of not absorbing the sweat, which, finding 

 no escape, w^ill, and must accumulate as a slimy 

 mass upon the back, irritating the back, and, very- 

 likely, producing sores and pimples. 



The only saddle doth of real merit is the "Excel- 

 sior," the upper surface of which, is of fine yellow 

 felt, of the color of the saddle. The under sur- 

 face, coming in contact with the horse's back, 

 consists of the finest knitted wool, with ridges 

 w^oven in it, running from front to rear, thereby ad- 

 mitting a free circulation of air. Where there is air, 

 there is no friction. Another feature is, that this 

 fine w^ool fastens itself in the hair of the horse's 

 back, thereby preventing the saddle from slipping 

 forward. This latter fact is quite important for 

 hunting men, and all those, whose horses are inclined 

 to curve up their back after mounting, often- 

 times the result of too tight girthing, or sensitive- 

 ness of the back, thereby shifting the saddle and 

 rider forward upon the withers. So, also, with horses 

 of low withers and with plungers. With this saddle 

 cloth, slipping will never happen, and, when the sad- 

 dle is taken off, after a hard ride in warm weather, 

 the horse's back will be found nearly dry, on account 



