SADDLES 123 



resumd of the abovershort outline of the history 

 of the saddle, and continue the table up to the 

 present day : — 



{a) First came the earliest form of Ephippmm, 

 a thin cloth, or often the skin of a lion or other 

 wild beast fastened with a girth, and with bands 

 round the horse's chest and hind quarters to help 

 retain it in place. 



{b) The Ephippium became thicker and more 

 comfortable ; it was gaily ornamented with metal 

 scales, bells, and borders. 



(c) A saddle, with a bow before and behind, 

 was placed over these glittering trappings, the 

 sella eqtiestris, which brings us up to the end of 

 the fourth century after Christ. 



(d) In the seventh century stirrups were intro- 

 duced. 



(e) In mediaeval times the exposed portions of 

 saddles were protected by armour. 



(/) Finally we arrive at the nineteenth century 

 cavalry saddle, and plain flapped hog-skin. 



Biblical scholars may complain of our omission 

 to mention how Balaam 

 "saddled his ass." In 

 all probability Balaam 

 walked, and led a pack- 

 donkey ; he certainly 

 did not ride on any- 

 thing so advanced as sella eqtiestris. 



"Saddle-trees" are made of beech-wood, over 

 which the very thinnest canvas is glued, to pre- 

 vent the wood from splitting under the process of 

 driving in the nails. Iron, or in the best trees, 



SADDLE-TREE 



