THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. 73 



cient length from the front of the second pom- 

 mel to the cantle. In the ready-made saddles 

 this distance is usually too short, and the rider 

 is obliged to sit upon the back edge of the seat, 

 thereby injuring both herself and her horse. 

 It is much better to err in the other direction 

 and have the seat too long rather than too short. 

 The third pommel should be so placed that it 

 will just span the knee when the stirrup-leather 

 is of the right length. It should be rather 

 short, slightly curved, and blunt. If it be too 

 long and have too much of a curve, it will, in 

 the English trot, interfere with the free action 

 of the rider's left leg, and if the horse should 

 fall, it would be almost impossible for her to dis- 

 engage her leg and free herself in time to es- 

 cape injury. The third pommel must be so 

 placed as not to interfere with the position of 

 the right leg when this is placed around the 

 second pommel with the right heel drawn back- 

 wards. To get the proper proportions for her 

 saddle, the lady must, when seated, take her 

 measure from the under side of the knee joint 

 to the lower extremity of her back, and also 

 to secure the proper width for the seat from 

 thigh to thigh. If these two measurements are 

 given to the saddle-maker he will, if he under- 

 stands his business, be able to construct the 

 saddle properly. 



