CLEANING A SADDLE. 69 



caused by too long a stirrup, by the leaping head being 

 placed too low down, and by rising at the trot for 

 too long a time. 



4. Mismanagement of the horse after his return to 

 the stable, which is a subject I will allude to further 

 on. 



CLEANING A SADDLE. 



The leather work of a saddle should be kept clean 

 and soft, with the stitches clearly defined, and not 

 clogged up by grease or dirt. No stain should be 

 left on a white pocket-handkerchief or kid glove, if it 

 be passed over any portion of the leather. Beeswax 

 may be used to give the saddle a polish ; but it should 

 be sparingly applied and should be well rubbed in, 

 for it is apt to make the leather very sticky. Nothing 

 but specially prepared or good white soap (made into 

 a thick lather) should be employed to clean the leather 

 work, except a little lime-juice or lemon-juice to 

 remove stains. The use of soft soap permanently 

 darkens leather. A small amount of saddle dressing 

 may be put on once a month, in order to keep the 

 leather soft and pliable. The steel work should, of 

 course, be kept bright. 



