136 



SADDLERY. 



SELF-FITTING MILITARY SADDLE. 



The Austrian Officer's Jointed Saddle Tree (Figs. 133, 134, 

 and 135), is useful for military saddles, because it is to a 

 certain extent self-fitting. It is composed entirely of steel, 



Fig. 133. Side View of Austrian Officer's Jointed Saddle Tree. 



and the bars are made to revolve on rods which are 

 placed horizontally in a longitudinal direction. Consequently, 

 the bars assume the slope of the back of the horse upon 



Fig 134- 



of Austrian Officer's Jointed Saddle Tree on a 

 Broad-backed Horse 



which they rest, as we may see by comparing Figs. 134 

 and 135 with each other. The fact of the bars being flexible 

 facilitates the automatic adjustment of the rider's weight. 

 This tree is known in England as the Keith-Fraser saddle- 



