SADDLES AND SADDLING. 153 



and lie will soon find tliat unbearable. All acrobats 

 and runners, put a strap around their waist, because it 

 assists them in their efforts. The main portion of 

 the lungs are enclosed by the chest (or by the true 

 ribs in the horse), while the small ends or the loops 

 of the lungs do not need so much room for expan- 

 sion. Why should that not be the same with the 

 horse ? 



Furthermore, if the rider sits then in the middle 

 of the saddle, the equilibrium between horse and 

 rider will be established. Or, if the rider sits very 

 far back on the loins of the horse — which loins, by the 

 way, are not intended by nature to carry the weight 

 directly, a thing we see practised very often by 

 thoughtless riders, causing considerable pain to the 

 horse, as the kidneys are located right underneath 

 the loins — the saddle will tilt up in front, and shift 

 forward, the result, possibly, being a sore back. 

 Horses, with ticklish backs, may resent such displace- 

 ment of the weight by kicking vigorously, such 

 movement sometimes followed by a graceful imitation 

 of the catapult on the part of the rider. 



The fastening of the girths is seldom properly 

 performed. Many people throw the saddle rudely 

 down upon the horse, as if the latter were a log of 

 wood, thereby irritating many horses, especially 

 jnares, to such a degree, as to make them jump in the 



