86 [CHAP. 



CHAPTEK VIII. 



THE SADDLE AND SIDE-SADDLE. 



A side-saddle should hare no right-hand pummel. The leaping horn. 

 Surcingle. Stirrup-leather. Stirrup-iron. Girthing. To avoid 

 riding on the buckles of the girths. 



No right- A SIDE -SADDLE should have no right -hand pummel : it 



hand pum- 



is useless to the seat, and impedes the working of the 

 right hand on the reins. The appearance when mounted 

 is infinitely improved hy the absence of it. The saddle 



Leaping should have what is called a third pummel, or leaping- 

 horn. 



horn. In case of any unusual motion of the horse, such 

 as leaping, an ebullition of gaiety, or violence from any 

 other cause, by pressing upwards with the front part 

 above the left knee, and downwards with the back part 

 above the right knee, a wonderfully strong grasp is ob- 

 tained, much stronger than the grasp obtained by the 

 mode in which men ride. This will be quite clear to you 



