390 TURKISH SEAT 



approached in its exhibit of high grade saddle-horses by 

 anything to be found in the Orient. 



His Imperial Majesty, however, rides chiefly Arabians ; 

 and in the Selanilik procession there were led after his 

 carriage a number of these, all white, richly mounted, and 

 with a gold-bedecked blanket thrown over each, so that 

 should he choose to return to the palace on horseback 

 he might have his selection. The beauty of these horses 

 seemed to elicit universal but injudicious admiration ; 

 they were more to be admired for their sleek, well- 

 groomed appearance, and for their general air of extreme 

 docility, than for any qualities they showed in the pro- 

 cession. A fine team of white Hanoverians in a low 

 hung phaeton was also on hand, in case his Majesty 

 should elect to drive himself back to the palace, as on 

 this occasion he did. 



The Turkish seat (in Europe at least) is no longer Ori- 

 ental. It has become exclusively military. This is natu- 

 ral enough in a military autocracy. The English saddle, 

 or some raodihcation of it, and the extra long stirrup-leath- 

 er — which is a simple perversion of the useful or appro- 

 priate in a flat saddle — is the regular thing. The short 

 seat has become so universal that it has invaded the im- 

 perial stables, and the stud-grooms all ride, in tlieir fancy 

 liveries, strictly d la militaire. This is as heartily to be 

 condemned as the Frenchman in gala uniform riding a 

 to-cover gait. 



On the whole, I do not like the flat saddle for the sol- 

 dier. It does not, it is not intended to, give an upright 

 seat. The knee is often back of instead of gripping the 

 stirrup-leather, and the knee-pad on the saddle-flap might 

 as well be on the horse's ears for any good it does with 

 such short leathers. The flat saddle is cut for an entirely 

 different seat. Iliiiiting ])roduced the English saddle; its 



