SADDLING. 47 



cept in military caparison, would be decidedly beneficial 

 in keeping the saddle in its proper place on long jour- 

 neys, especially where, from the shape of the animal, 

 the saddle will come too much forward, interfering with 

 the action of the shoulders, and throwing the weight of 

 the burden unduly on the fore-quarters, thus increasing 

 the odds in favour of a tired beast making an irre- 

 trievable stumble. 



The dock of the crupper should be seen to that it is 

 soft, and free from crusted sweat and dandriff, which 

 would naturally cause irritation and abrasion of the tail. 

 It should be always kept well greased ready for use.* 



The Military Crupper, according to the rules of the 

 service, should be so loose between cantel and dock 

 as to admit of a man's hand being turned with ease 

 between the horse's back and the strap. If the crupper 

 be intended merely for ornament, such a regulation has 

 hardly any meaning, for it cannot be considered orna- 

 mental to see an apparently useless piece of leather 

 dangling at one side over a horse's hip ; and if the in- 

 tention be to make it useful, to keep the saddle from 

 going too far forward on ill-formed horses,t or in case of 



* All the foregoing observations on saddlery apply equally to 

 ladies' saddles. Marked attention should be paid before they mount 

 to the girths, which should be very tight, to prevent the saddle 

 from turning, a lady's weight being often altogether on one side. 



f As a good shoulder, such as will keep a saddle in its place, is 

 one of the great essentials in a gentleman's hack, or indeed in an 

 officer's charger, giving him leverage to lift his legs safely and 

 showily, it stands to reason that not many such will pass into the 

 ranks at the Government price for remounts, which, however, is 

 ample to supply animals suitable for the service, and does so in 

 regiments where the class of horse provided at once proves that the 

 whole sum allowed is invested in the remount itself, and proper 

 judgment exercised in purchasing. 



