THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. 93 



In order to produce a neat and pleasing ap- 

 pearance, there should be no unsightly ends or 

 straps left dangling from the loops of the head- 

 stall. They should be so snugly fitted into 

 their places that they cannot work out of their 

 loops. 



The forehead band should never be too tight 

 for the horse's comfort, and the small rosettes 

 that lie over his temples should be well oiled 

 underneath and kept soft. 



A side-saddle may be made accurately accord- 

 ing to all recognized rules, and yet lose nearly 

 all its good effects by being improperly put 

 on ; the rider will be made uncomfortable, the 

 horse's back will be injured, and the saddle will 

 eventually have its padding so compressed in 

 the wrong direction that it will be impossible to 

 put it on in the right way. 



Every lady rider should know as well how to 

 have her saddle properly adjusted as how to sit 

 her horse or manage the reins. On a well- 

 formed horse, with rather high withers and 

 sloping shoulders, the centre of the saddle 

 should be placed over the middle of the back, 

 and be so arranged that the front part of the 

 saddle-tree shall be a very short distance back 

 of the horse's shoulder-blade, for if allowed to 

 rest upon the shoulder-blade it will interfere 



