SYRIAN SADDLES 353 



fantaslya^ the Arabian is an expert. But a good polo-rider 

 will beat him even at this game, and in any event it is not 

 pure saddle- work. It is like any other specialty, as hunting 

 or racing. For unadulterated saddle-work I have owned 

 Kentucky horses far and away ahead of anything I have 

 seen among Arabs, and I do not claim to have had prince- 

 ly horses, but only the best of the average run, well- 

 trained. 



There is one exception to the rule I have given. The 

 Cretan horse often has a fast rack. He goes the gait in 

 perfect purity, and is said to be able to carry a man twelve 

 miles and over within the hour. When the ordmary good 

 horse brings ten or twelve pounds sterling, this little fel- 

 low, who differs only in ability to go from his cousins, and 

 is otherwise a mean-looking, low-headed runt, will always 

 find a purchaser at forty pounds and upwards. I could 

 learn nothing of his ancestry. 



The Syrian saddle has many varieties, none very marked. 

 From what resembles a high-cantled, leather-covered Eng- 

 lish saddle to one of modified Oriental t\^pe, you find all 

 kinds and sizes. The saddle is rather apt to be covered 

 with a sheepskin, so as to conceal its peculiarities. The 

 man's seat is the same as in Africa, with very short stir- 

 rups, knees thrust way forward, and heels dug into the 

 horse's flanks. There is no pretence to hold on by the 

 knees ; the grip is solely with calf and heel. Most sad- 

 dles, if you will use long stirrups, can be made fairly com- 

 fortable to a small man ; but no one, not used to it, can 

 ride d VAmhe. There is no chance to move in an Arab's 

 saddle, and a sudden jerk, if it unseats you, does so effect- 

 ually ; in an English saddle there is much room for read- 

 justing your seat after a sudden jerk. In the one you are 

 fairly kicked out of the saddle ; in the other you may re- 

 cover yourself. The saddle in Asia Minor has a leather- 



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