36 SIDE-SADDLES. 



annealed iron, which is a form of cast-iron, it is not 

 an uncommon occurrence for the screw of one of 

 these saddles to break, which is more apt to occur 

 at a critical moment, as for instance when the horse 

 is jumping or " playing up," than when he is going 

 quietly. On the only occasion I ever rode over a 

 fence in one of these cheap Walsall saddles, the 

 screw broke, but luckily I ''remained." 



4. When the leaping head is a fixture, the bearing 

 surface which it presents to the rider's left leg 

 should be in the same direction as the upper part of 

 that limb, so that the pressure on it may be evenly 

 distributed. By placing a straight stick under the 

 leaping head, and holding it in the direction which 

 the left thigh would occupy, when the rider is mounted, 

 we can easily see if the bearing surface is in the proper 

 position. 



5. As an aid to security of seat, it is well to have 

 the under surface of the leaping head and the off side 

 of the upper crutch covered with rough brown leather, 

 which, we should bear in mind, is concealed from 

 view, when the lady is in the saddle, and conse- 

 quently it will not detract from the smartness of her 

 appearance. 



STIRRUP-LEATHER. 



The stirrup-leather, which is on the near side, 

 should always be attached to a bar, and not, as is 

 sometimes done, to the balance strap (p. 53) ; 



