222 THE SHAPE. 



enough to admit of placing the knuckles vertically between 

 the crotch of the legs and the seat of the saddle when the 

 rider stands upright in his stirrups ; second, by the knee 

 being carried either forward or backward to a point where 

 the shin bone and the stirrup leather fall in a vertical line. 

 If, however, the person for whom the saddle is being meas- 

 ured is accustomed to ride either with a very long or a very 

 short stirrup, the measurements should be taken with the leg 

 in the position determined by the customary length of the 

 stirrup-leather. The average rider will find the correct 

 length by adjusting the stirrup-leather so that when the tips 

 of the fingers are in contact with the spring bars, and the 

 arm extended, the bottom of the stirrup will just reach the 

 armpit. 



THE SHAPE. 



As has been said in a preceding paragraph, when horses 

 have high withers the saddle should be cut back at the 

 pommel, and in all cases the appearance of the saddle is en- 

 hanced and a more sloping effect given to the horse's 

 shoulder by having this part slightly cut back. (See Fig. 86.) 

 The seat of the saddle should have a " dip " suited to the 

 conformation of the rider, but the " dip " should be slight, 

 as the closer all parts of the saddle are to the horse's back 

 the better will be the seat of the rider. For the same rea- 

 son saddles with broad waists are objectionable ; this, how- 

 ever, is a fault too frequently met with even in well made 

 saddles. The rider may choose a saddle with knee pads or 

 without as he fancies ; the former gives a more secure hold 

 to a beginner. The flaps (see Fig. 88) should be cut well 

 forward, but not to such an extent that there is no leather 

 under the middle of the thigh. By comparing Figs. 88 and 



