66 SIDE-SADDLES. 



usual verdict of accidental death .was given. These 

 twelve good men and true absolutely ignored the 

 stirrup, which had been the sole cause of this awful 

 occurrence, and concentrated their entire attention on 

 the innocent pony she rode. 



SADDLING A HORSE. 



As a horse's loins are ill fitted to bear weight, the 

 saddle should be placed as far forward as it can go, 

 without interfering with the action of his shoulder- 

 blades, the position of the rearmost portion of which 

 is indicated by the "saddle muscle," which is a lump 

 of muscle below the withers. The saddle can be 

 placed about three inches behind it. Instead of 

 putting the saddle on the exact part of the back 

 it is to occupy, it is best to place it a few inches too 

 far forward, and then to draw it back, so as to smooth 

 down the hair under it, and thus make it comfortable 

 for the animal. The front girth is first taken up, and 

 then the next one, which is passed through the loop 

 of the martingale or breast-plate, supposing that two 

 girths of equal width are used. To prevent any 

 wrinkles being made in the skin under the girths, and 

 to make the pressure even, the groom should shorten 

 the girths to about half the required extent on one 

 side, should finish the tightening on the other side, 

 and should run his fingers between the girths and 

 skin in order to smooth out any wrinkles, the presence 

 of which would be liable to cause a girth-gall. As 

 girthing up, when the lady is mounted, will have to be 



