CHAPTER XIV 



GIRTHS 



Hide-girths are often used in the Australian 

 Bush and in several of our Colonies, but they are 

 rarely seen in English hunting centres. They 

 are not such comfortable girths as the "V.W. H." 

 and " Fitzwilliam," and naturally an owner |of 



HIDE GIRTH 



valuable horses seeks comfort for them and 

 avoids getting them girth-galled. 



A valuable adjunct is a surcingle, which is a 

 web strap going over the saddle. This additional 

 safeguard is useful when racing or riding young 

 horses. It keeps a saddle on in case a pair of 

 ofirths should break. 



How to girth a horse properly is a much dis- 

 puted point. Some people consider that two 

 fingers should be squeezed in when the horse is 

 ready to mount. If girths be much tighter they 

 become gallingly so, and also help to stop a 

 horse's breathing through affecting his heart. 



142 



