THE LEATHER, COLOR, STITCHING, FURNITURE. 219 



THE LEATHER. 



The material of which the saddle is made should be 

 preferably of pigskin for the seat and flaps, or the latter may 

 be made of calfskin, if but a single thickness of leather is 

 used, and the outer surface stamped to imitate pigskin. 

 Doeskin, although giving the rider a firmer seat, is objec- 

 tionable, first, because it absorbs the moisture in the air and 

 becomes hard ; and second, because saddles in which it is 

 employed are clumsier and less workmanlike in appearance. 

 Imitation pigskin may be known by the absence of the 

 holes from which the bristles have been taken in the true 

 leather 



THE COLOR AND STITCHING. 



The leather should be of russet color, and the saddle and 

 bridle correspond in shade. As the leather tones down with 

 age and constant dressing it becomes a golden brown, which 

 shade is the one most desirable to retain. The stitching 

 should be yellow and free from any fancy design, such as 

 scroll work, etc. In the best made saddles the stitching is 

 confined to the edges of the various parts, the outlines of 

 which it follows. 



THE FURNITURE. 



The furniture consists of the two spring-bars from w^hich 

 stirrup leathers are suspended, the rivet heads of the rivets 

 and a D or staple in front of the skirt and one under 

 it on each side. Two staples are placed on the left-hand 

 side of the seat in hunting saddles. The spring-bars 

 should be of steel and of some type that allows the stirrup 

 leather to be released when drawn backward. The rivet 

 heads are usually plated, as they receive but little wear and 



