SADDLING. 43 



hunting-field with a pretty tight noseband and a snaffle 

 than with the most severe curb-bit. 



The Throat-lash is almost always too tight. Grooms 

 are much in the habit of making this mistake, by 

 means of which, when the head is bent by a severe 

 bit, the throat is compressed and the respiration im- 

 peded, besides occasioning an ugly appearance in the 

 caparison. 



It may be remarked also that, if not corrected, ser- 

 vants are apt to leave the ends of the bridle head-stall 

 straps dangling at length out of the loops, which is very 

 unsightly : the ends of the straps should be inserted in 

 these loops, which should be sufficiently tight to retain 

 them. 



SADDLING. 



A Saddle should be made to fit the horse for which 

 it is intended, and requires as much variation in shape, 

 especially in the stuffing, as there is variety in the 

 shapes of horses' backs.* An animal may be fairly 

 shaped in the back, and yet a saddle that fits another 

 horse will always go out on this one's withers. The 

 saddle having been made to fit your horse, let it be 

 placed gently upon him, and shifted till its proper 

 berth be found. When in its right place, the action of 

 the upper part of the shoulder-blade should be quite 

 free from any confinement or pressure by what saddlers 

 call the " gullet " of the saddle under the pommel when 

 the animal is in motion. It stands to reason that any 

 interference with the action of the shoulder-blade must, 



* I may recommend Gibson, 6 Coventry Street, Leicester Square, 

 as an excellent, intelligent, and experienced saddler. 



