94 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



very much with the action of the shoulder mus- 

 cles. It is a common fault of grooms to place 

 the saddle a little sideways, and too far forward 

 on the withers. The well-taught rider can, 

 however, easily decide whether the saddle is in 

 the right position : standing on the off-side of 

 the horse, she must pass her right hand under 

 the arch of the saddle-tree, which should be di- 

 rectly over the withers, and see whether it sits 

 perfectly even, bearing no more to one side than 

 to the other ; then stepping behind the horse, 

 but at a safe distance from his heels, she can 

 see whether the long central furrow of the 

 under surface of the saddle-seat from front to 

 rear (chamber) is in a direct line with the an- 

 imal's backbone, and forms an open space over 

 it. If these conditions are fulfilled, the saddle 

 is properly adjusted. If the horse have rather 

 straight shoulders, together with a plump, round 

 body, the saddle will require to be placed rather 

 farther forward, but with the chamber still in a 

 line with the backbone. On some horses of 

 this shape, the saddle, to be held securely, will 

 need to be set so far forward that the girths 

 will have to pass close to the fore-legs. A 

 horse of this description is not suitable for the 

 side-saddle, but as ladies in the country and in 

 the far West are sometimes obliged to ride such, 



