HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. (ft 



the side of the saddle perfectly smooth, except the stirrup- 

 leather. To lessen the friction from that, I recommend a 

 single, thin strap, as broad as a gentleman's, instead of the 

 present double, narrow, thick one. The stirrup should be in 

 all respects the same as a man's, and to make assurance doubly 

 sure, it should open at the side with a spring. This might be 

 useful in case of a fall on the off side, when the action of the 

 spring bar of the saddle might be impeded. But, if the stirrup 

 be~as large and as heavy as a man's, it is next to impossible 

 that the foot should be entangled in it. It is the common 

 error to suppose that persons are dragged owing to the stirrup 

 being too large, and the foot passing through it, — but the 

 reason is its being too small, and the foot being clasped by the 

 pressure of the upper part of the stirrup on the toe, and the 

 lower part on the sole of the foot. The strap should take on 

 and off it by means of a loop, like a slip-knot : it should be fixed 

 over the spring bar of the saddle, by a buckle similar to that of 

 a man's stirrup-leather, and which, though it bo only attached 



