

GIRTHS 



143 



I have known otherwise honest 

 horses that would not try to gallop 

 when tightly girthed. A good many 

 horses learn to buck through no- 

 thing else but being too tightly 

 girthed, otherwise they would be 

 perfectly quiet. 



When about to do a gallop, or 

 when close to a meet of stag or fox- 

 hounds, always see that you do not 

 go to the other extreme and have 

 your girths too loose. The afore- 

 mentioned test of getting your two 

 fingers between the girths and the 

 horse is quite all right. 



Much depends how a horse is 

 made. Some will carry a saddle 

 quite loosely, unless it is very well 

 and cleverly padded. Others will 

 have it tight, being dependent on 

 whether a horse is well or badly 

 shaped at his withers, and herring- 

 gutted or like a beer-barrel round 

 his body. In the army, leather 

 surcingles are used. Of course web- 

 girths have to be washed. In time 

 this rots them, 



A capital girth is made from 

 ordinary leather with perforation 

 slits to allow the perspiration to 

 escape. This girth is most sub- 

 stantial for colt-breaking. 



" V.W.H." {i.e. Vale of the White 



