SADDLE TREES. 123 



we have frequent cases of saddles opening out at the gullet 

 plate and breaking at the bars and points of the trees from 

 excessive pressure and shock. A weight of one pound in 

 the saddle for every stone the rider weighs, is a fair allowance. 

 We may take 10 Ibs. as a minimum weight for a hunting 

 saddle, complete with girths, leathers, and irons; and 14 Ibs. as 

 an ordinary weight. If the gullet plate of a hunting saddle 



Fig. 127. Hunting Saddle with half Cut back Head and Knee-rolls. 



under fair usage, opens out (thereby causing the points of 'the 

 tree to become separated from the sides of the horse, and the 

 arch of the pommel to come down upon or to approach the 

 withers), we may rest assured that the saddle is at fault. 

 But with racing saddles, which are made within very narrow 

 limits of weight, it is almost impossible to have the gullet 

 plate strong enough to preserve its original form under severe 



