SADDLES AND BRIDLES 263 



of the wind or coming in contact with branches of trees 

 or hedges. 



However correctly a man may be * got up ' himself, 

 unless the saddles and bridles he uses are * in concat- 

 enation accordingly ' the effect will be lost — the snob 

 will peep out. The old-fashioned saddles, such as we 

 see in paintings of horses of the last century, although 

 they have been evidently improved upon in workman- 

 ship were quite correct in form. They were made 

 straight in the seat, not like the Huzzar-fashioned 

 saddles introduced some thirty or forty years since and 

 perseveringly made to this day by one of the most 

 eminent saddlers in London. The importance of a 

 good saddle will be properly appreciated by any man 

 who has once had a bad one. A huge, ill-contrived, 

 spongy, heavy, Dutch-built production is an abomina- 

 tion not to be endured. A miller's pad is preferable. 

 The old-fashioned straight seat should be observed, 

 very low in the cantle, and the pommel not higher than 

 is absolutely necessary to clear the horse's withers. 

 The skirts of a saddle should be cut in conformity with 

 the make of the rider's thighs, and the consequent 

 position of his legs. A man who with short thick 

 thighs sits very upright in his seat requires the skirts 

 of his saddle to be cut straighter than one who is 

 moulded on a more horseman-like model, with thinner 

 and longer thighs, and who sits with his legs forward. 

 The thickness of the padding in the skirts is also a 

 subject worthy of attention. For the purpose of 

 affording a more secure purchase for the knees and legs 

 some saddlers make them very thick, which is certainly 

 objectionable : by extending the knees so far apart the 

 power of the clip is reduced, or at any rate it causes 

 more exertion to bring it into effect. In passing through 

 coverts, or going through stiff fences, the thickness of 

 the stuffing is obviously an impediment. The ease and 

 comfort of the rider are better provided for with a 

 moderate portion of stuffing, and the skirts cut in a 

 position suitable to his seat. 



