104 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



ill the last moment, when his horse is about to spring. 

 It is then too late, and he will either find himself so 

 thrown out of his seat as to lose balance and grip too, 

 or will try to save his leg by shifting it back instead 

 of forward, when much confusion, bad language, and 

 perhaps a broken knee-pan will be the result. 



Amongst other advantages of the open saddle we 

 must not forget that it is cheaper by twenty shillings, 

 and so sets off the shape of his forehand as to make a 

 hunter look more valuable by twenty pounds. 



Nevertheless, it is still repudiated by some of our 

 finest horsemen, who allege the sufficient reason that an 

 inch or so of stuffing adds to their strength and security 

 of seat. This, after all is, the sine qud non, to which 

 every article of equipment, even the important items of 

 boots and breeches, should be subservient, and I may 

 here remark that ease and freedom of dress are indis- 

 pensable to a man who wishes to ride across a country 

 not only in comfort, but in safety. I am convinced that 

 tight, ill-fitting leathers may have broken bones to 

 answer for. Many a good fellow comes down to break- 

 fast, stiff of gait, as if he were clothed in buckram, and 

 can we wonder that he is hurt when thus hampered and 

 constrained, he falls stark and rigid, like a paste-board 

 policeman in a pantomime. 



