THE CRUPPER. 13 



The Saddle. 



Care must be taken that the saddle fits the horse, and 

 does not in any way pinch or hurt his back. In putting it 

 on, it must be placed rather too forward, drawing it gently 

 back until it is in its proper position, which will be when 

 the front of it is four inches, or the breadth of the hand, 

 behind the play of the horse's shoulder. The object of 

 placing it too forward and drawing it back, is, that it may 

 smooth the horse's coat, and make it lie the proper way, 

 otherwise he might be rendered irritable and fretful. The 

 girths (more particularly with young horses) must be 

 drawn up gently, hole by hole, and not tighter than to 

 admit a finger easily between them and the horse's belly. 

 Should they be drawn up suddenly, or too tightly, it will 

 cause the horse to swell himself and plunge, which might, 

 in some instances, burst the girths, and the saddle, by falling, 

 would greatly alarm a young horse. 



The Breast Plate 



Is only used for military purposes ; and should be fitted 

 in such a manner that when the horse is standing well up 

 in front, the upper edge of the rosette or boss, should be 

 three inches above the sharp breast-bone of his chest, and 

 admit the breadth of the hand vertically, on the flat of 

 his shoulder bone, and also between the martingal and his 

 chest. 



The Crupper 



Is seldom used but with military saddles. When it is neces- 

 sary, it must be so adjusted as to admit the breadth of the 

 hand between it and the horse's croup ; I mean, that a man 



