76 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



correct position of the stirrup leg will be inter- 

 fered with. A side-saddle should never be too 

 light in weight, for this will make the back of 

 the horse sore, especially if he be ridden by a 

 heavy woman. 



The tacks or nails in the under part of the 

 saddle should be firmly driven in, as they may 

 otherwise become loose and either injure the 

 horse, or make him nervous and uneasy. To 

 avoid trouble of this kind, some people advocate 

 the use of false pannels, which are fastened to 

 the saddle-tree by rods or loops, and can be re- 

 moved and replaced at will. It is said that by 

 using them, the same saddle can be made to fit 

 different horses. The author has no personal 

 knowledge of this invention, but it has been 

 strongly recommended to her by several excel- 

 lent horsemen. A felt or flannel saddle cloth, 

 of the same color as the rider's habit, should al- 

 ways be placed under the saddle, as it helps to 

 protect the horse's back, as well as to prevent 

 the saddle from getting soiled. 



Every finished side-saddle has three girths. 

 Two of these are made of felt cloth, or strong 

 webbing, and are designed to fasten it firmly 

 upon the horse's back. The third one, made of 

 leather, is intended to keep the flaps down. 

 There should always be, on each side, three 



