THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. 



77 



straps fastened to the saddle-tree under the 

 leather flaps ; upon two of these the girths are 

 to be buckled, while the third is an extra one, 

 to be used as a substitute in case of any accident 

 to either of the others. Between the outside 

 leather flaps and the horse's body there should 

 be an under flap of flannel or cloth, which 



Fig. 8. Stokes' mode of girthing the saddle. 



should be well padded on the side next the 

 horse, because, when tightly girthed, the girth- 

 buckles press directly upon the outside of this 

 flap, and if its padding be thin, or worn, the 

 animal will suffer great pain. This is a cause 

 of restlessness which is seldom noticed, and 

 many a horse has been thought to be bad tem- 

 pered when he was only wild with pain from 



