TIIL] THE SADDLE AND SIDE-SADDLE. 89 



to the small flap, but to the lower part of the large 

 flap on the near side. This will leave the small flap 

 on the near side loose, as in a man's saddle, and will 

 allow liberty for the use of the spring bar. It will also 

 lessen the friction against the habit and leg, by rendering 

 the side of the saddle perfectly smooth, except the 

 stirrup-leather. To lessen the friction from that I recom- stirrup 



leather. 



mend a single thin strap, as broad as a man's stirrup- 

 leather, instead of the present double, narrow, thick one. 

 Of three sorts of single stirrup-leathers the smoothest is 

 with a loop to go over the spring-bar, and with an 

 adjusting buckle just above the stirrup -iron : or the strap 

 may take off and on the iron by a slip loop, and passing 

 over the spring-bar as usual, be fastened, and its length 

 adjusted, by a loose buckle, which, though it is only 

 attached to the strap by the tongue, is perfectly secure. 

 For hunting I always use a single strap, sewn to the iron, 

 with a D above the knee, and with a double strap and 

 buckle between the D and the spring-bar. The lady's 

 stirrup-leather, which passes under the horse's body, and 



