28 SIDE-SADDLES. 



The webs (Fig. n) of a tree are strong hempen 

 bands which cover the open space down the centre 

 of the tree, and are nailed, at one end, to the pommel, 

 and at the other end to the cantle. They are tightly 

 stretched, in order to give the rider a comfortable 

 seat, and to keep her weight off the horse's back- 

 bone. 



The office of the bars of the tree is to evenly dis- 

 tribute the rider's weight, by means of the panel, over 

 the muscles which run along each side of the horse's 

 backbone, and which form the only suitable bearing 

 surfaces for the purpose in question. No weight 

 should fall on the animal's backbone, because it is very 

 sensitive to pressure, even when the pressure is well 

 distributed. In order to obtain this indispensable 

 condition of evenly-distributed pressure, the bars of 

 the tree of a saddle which is to be made for a particular 

 horse, should accurately fit the bearing surfaces of the 

 back upon which they rest, and should be well away 

 from the backbone ; in fact, the distance between the 

 bars should not be less than four inches. When the 

 rider is in the saddle, a fair amount of space should 

 exist between the gullet plate and the withers, so that 

 no injurious pressure may fall on the top or sides of 

 the withers, which are particularly susceptible to inflam- 

 mation from this cause. 



In order to avoid giving an undue height to the 

 pommel, with the object of keeping it off the withers, 

 it should be " cut back" (Fig. n), although this 

 cutting back need not be carried to the excessive 



