SADDLING. 45 



With ladies' saddles most particular attention should 

 be paid to the girthing. 



(It must be observed that, with some horses having the knack 

 of swelling themselves out during the process of girthing, 

 the girths may be tightened before leaving the stable so as to 

 appear almost too tight, but which, when the horse has been 

 walked about for ten minutes, will seem comparatively loose, 

 and quite so when the rider's weight is placed in the saddle.) 



Siirrup-Irons should invariably be of wrought steel. 

 A man should never be induced knowingly to ride in a 

 cast-metal stirrup, any more than he ought to attempt 

 to do so with a cast-metal bit. 



Stirrup-irons should be selected to suit the size of 

 the rider's foot ; those with two or three narrow bars 

 at the bottom are decidedly preferable, for the simple 

 reason, that in cold weather it is a tax on a man's en- 

 durance to have a single broad bar like an icicle in the 

 ball of his foot, and in wet weather a similar argument 

 may apply as regards damp ; besides, with the double 

 bar, the foot has a better hold in the stirrup, the rings 

 being, of course, indented (rasp-like), as they usually 

 are, to prevent the foot from slipping in them. 



This description of stirrup, with an instep-pad, is 

 preferable for ladies to the slipper, which is decidedly 

 obsolete. 



Latchford's * ladies' patent safety stirrup seems to 

 combine every precaution for the security of fair eques- 

 trians. 



A balance-strap to a side-saddle is very desirable, and 

 in general use. 



Where expense is no object, stirrups that open at the 



* Latchford, 11 Upper St Martin's Lane, London, and all 

 saddlers. 



