56 SIDE-SADDLES. 



and Freddie (Fig. 7), about fifteen years ago, were not 

 called "level seated," but we may see that they are 

 quite as neat and smart as those of the present time, 

 which fact shows that very little change has been 

 made in the shape of side-saddles since the eighties. 



THE SADDLE MUST FIT THE RIDER. 



The two great points in this requirement are that 

 the upper crutch and leaping head should be in a 

 suitable position, and the saddle sufficiently long, so as 

 to be about a couple of inches clear of the back of the 

 rider's seat. The right position of the upper crutch 

 and leaping head can be determined only by experi- 

 ment. If the tree is so short as to allow any undue 

 weight to fall on the cantle, the horse will naturally 

 run the risk of getting a sore back. The height of the 

 upper crutch and the length of the leaping head will 

 vary according to the thickness of limb. We shall 

 see on pages 150 to 152, that the position of the 

 upper crutch which will suit a lady who hooks back 

 her right leg, will not be applicable to one who carries 

 her right foot forward ; and vice versa. A saddle 

 which suits a rider's style of equitation will invariably 

 fit her, if its tree and its crutches are long enough. 

 Hence, if more than one member of a family wants 

 to ride and there is only one horse, a saddle which 

 will fit the biggest will suit all the rest. 



CRUPPER. 

 The office of a crupper is to prevent the saddle 



