150 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



caught when lost, and is not so apt to slip back as 

 the former. 



The safety stirrup seems to be the best, for being 

 heavy and opening on one side, it may become a 

 life preserver in case of an accident. 



In ladies' stirrups there are also different kinds — 

 the slipper, which is perfectly safe, though easily 

 lost, and a clumsy affair ; the Victoria, about the 

 worst and most dangerous stirrup in existence, as, 

 through its being padded all around, it becomes 

 too narrow, even for the smallest foot. If button 

 boots are worn, the buttons are caught by the 

 padding, and, in case of a fall, the rider may not 

 be able to disengage her foot quickly enough. There 

 are several kinds of safety stirrups, of which the 

 " Reliance " seems to be the best, as it is really re- 

 liable. It is a double stirrup, a small one inside a 

 larger one. The foot is placed in the inner stirrup, 

 and in case of a fall, this inner stirruj) turns around 

 thereby opening the foot-blade and the foot drops 

 out. 



In saddling a horse, the first question arising is, 

 where is the proper place for the saddle ? The con- 

 struction of the horse's shoulder is our only and 

 unalterable guide, and we cannot, with impunity, go 

 back on that, as the result would be, sooner or later, 

 weak-kneed horses, or broken collar-bones. 



