30 SIDE-SADDLES. 



near head> is a more or less upright projection which is 

 placed on the near side of the pommel, in order to give 

 support to the rider's right leg. The slope and bearing 

 surface of this near head should be regulated, so that 

 (as we shall see further on) the lower part of the rider's 

 right leg may extend downwards along the shoulder of 

 the horse, and that the lady may be able to exert full 

 pressure against the near head, by the inward rotation 

 of her thigh (p. 157). The height of the near head 

 depends on the thickness of the rider's thigh, because 

 a fat leg will require a higher crutch than a thin one. 

 If the upper crutch be unduly long, it will push the 

 skirt up and give it a bad appearance. We must, 

 however, bear in mind that if it is too short for its 

 legitimate purpose, it will afford an insecure grip to 

 the right leg, which is a consideration that must not be 

 neglected. 



Before the leaping head (p. 33) was invented, side- 

 saddles were provided with an off crutch, which was 

 placed on the offside of the pommel. In a very old 

 saddle which I saw, it took the form of an upright 

 handle, which was placed parallel to the direction of 

 the withers, and which apparently was intended to be 

 grasped by the right hand of the rider in case of emer- 

 gency. In a saddle of mine, which is about 100 years 

 old, the off crutch projects horizontally to the right. 

 Fifty years ago, the off crutch was almost always 

 upright, and was often placed so close to the near 

 crutch that the rider was able to get a fairly firm 

 support for her right leg by jamming it between these 



