SADDLE TREES. 119 



mately regard the weight-bearing surfaces of the back and 

 loins as the parts pressed upon, when a properly fitted hunting 

 saddle-tree is placed on a horse. We find from experience 

 that with a full-sized animal, a space of not less than 3^ 

 inches in width, down the centre of the back, should be left 

 free from pressure. We may therefore take this as a mini- 

 mum width between the bars of a saddle-tree intended for 

 hard work. 



SADDLE TREES. 



The trade of saddle-tree making is entirely separate from 

 that of the saddler, whose business is to construct saddles 

 from materials furnished to him by the tree maker, tanner, 

 saddlers' ironmonger, hair and wool merchant, and other 

 tradesmen. 



In the selection or ordering of a tree, the following are 

 the chief points which have to be considered : 



I. The tree must be sufficiently long : As the reduction in 

 the length of a saddle will be accompanied by a saving of 

 only a pound or two, no useful end under ordinary con- 

 ditions will be gained by having a saddle much shorter than 

 a length which will correspond to that of the weight-bearing 

 surface of the back. Any marked diminution in the legiti- 

 mate length of a saddle is objectionable, on account of its 

 curtailing the surface over which the weight of the rider 

 should be distributed, and also by its tendency to give horses 

 sore backs. I have pointed out in Veterinary Notes for Horse- 

 Oivners that " the use of too short a saddle is not an un- 

 common cause of sore back, just behind the cantle, upon 

 which spot an undue proportion of the weight is liable to 

 be thrown in such cases. With a saddle of this kind, if a 

 horse is made to go fast or jump, the skin immediately behind 

 the cantle being pressed downwards and backwards, will 

 become forcibly wrinkled at each stride the animal takes ; 



