80 ^'OTES FOR IIUNTING-MEX 



of all his saddles, and make sure that they fit the 



horse for whom they are intended. The shape of 



some horses' backs alters considerably dur- 



Saddlery , , . . . 



mg the conditionmg time, and if a saddle 

 has not an equal bearing on the animal's back the 

 first day's hunting will find it out. Nothing is more 

 annoying than to have a sound horse placed ' hors 

 de combat ' from this cause. If you have a saddle 

 room, the safest plan is to have a saddle fitted for 

 each horse ; but it is by no means necessary to do 

 this. One saddle may very possibly fit two or 

 three horses ; only you must not expect that any 

 saddle will fit any horse indiscriminately. 



With side saddles, a separate saddle for each 

 animal is more desirable, and it is as well to see 

 that the horses which are to carry a lady are ridden 

 during September and October at exercise in their 

 saddles. A light boy should be put up in a lady's 

 second horseman's pad. The bearing of a lady's 

 saddle comes much further back than that of a 

 man's, so that if a horse has only been ridden in 

 the latter, he is almost certain to feel the first long 

 day with a lady on his back. A useful form of 

 saddle for indiscriminate use, though somewhat 

 unsightly, is one called the Wykeham saddle, 

 patented by a Winchester saddler, named Eichards. 

 It consists of a felt numnah, perforated in the 

 centre, wlii.ch fits loosely, though securely, on the 



