XXIV. 



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Requirements of a Good Saddle. A good saddle should 

 satisfactorily meet the following requirements: 



1. The padding should be done in a way to secure per- 

 fect balance of the saddle. Too high behind, the saddle 

 will throw the whole weight of the rider into the stirrups. 

 Too high in front, it will throw him back and diminish the 

 grip of the thighs and prevent proper set of the knees. 



2. The pommel arch should be wide enough to allow 

 the saddle to be used on nearly all horses and to be set far 

 enough back. 



3. The seat should not be too flat and the rider should 

 not feel the outer edges of the bars of the tree under his 

 thighs. 



4. The straps for the girth should be set well forward. If 

 the line of traction of the girth were too far to the rear, the 

 saddle would rock and, rising in front, would work up toward 

 the withers. 



How a Horse Should be Saddled. The saddle should be 

 placed far enough back but it is impossible to give any fixed 

 rule. Its proper place depends upon the conformation of 

 the horse. A horse with a good back and a well marked 

 girth place is easy to saddle; it is the reverse in the case of 

 one with short ribs or big bellj' or hollow shoulders. 



The matter of saddling, although often neglected, is of 

 great importance. Everything in riding hinges on balance 

 and balance will be handicapped from the start if the rider 

 is seated too close to the withers and is unduly overloading 

 the forehand. 



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