90 HORSES A^D EIDING. 



The stirrup leathers -asually sold are right, with 

 two exceptions : one is, that the holes are always 

 punched from the wrong side ; and the other, that 

 the holes are always too far apart. 



The holes should be punched from the same side 

 as the tongue of the buckle goes in at, and there 

 should be only half an inch between the holes. The 

 reason of this is as follows : — 



Ever^^one ought to be able to alter their stirrup 

 leathers — that is, to make them longer or shorter — 

 themselves, without getting ofiP and without stopping 

 their horse. Now, in order to do this with as much 

 ease as possible, everything about the stirrups and 

 leathers should work as smoothly and as well as it 

 can be made to do. If the holes are punched as I 

 have directed the largest opening will be next the 

 tongue of the buckle, and the tongue will slip in 

 with ease ; whereas, when the holes are punched the 

 other way, the smaller opening is next the tongue, and 

 force is required to get it buckled, which force the 

 rider is not able to apply when seated on the saddle. 

 The holes should be half an inch apart, that is, they 

 should have half an inch of leather between them, 

 because the rider can easily, with one hand and one 

 motion of the forefinger, raise the strap that distance 

 and put the tongue of the buckle in the hole, but 

 he cannot do this if the holes are an inch apart, or 

 nearly so. When you want to let down your stir- 

 rups you should draw the strap through the buckle 



