28 THE ART OP 



wide, and sufficiently strong to resist every 

 effort the horse can make. 



They are generally three in number, but 

 sometimes a surcingle is used ; this is a fourth 

 girth, which passes over the saddle, and is 

 attached under the belly, in order to strength- 

 en the girths. 



The portrail, or breast-leather, is a piece of 

 leather with three angles, to each of which is 

 a little strap, two of which serve to attach it 

 to the sides of the saddle-bows of the front, 

 and the third passes between the legs, to be 

 attached to the first girth under the belly. 



The breast-leather, serves to prevent the 

 saddle from moving backwards, and from 

 wounding the reins ; it should not descend be- 

 low the joint of the shoulder, so as not to con- 

 strain the movements of the horse. 



The crupper, is a strap attached to the 

 back bow, and terminated by a sort of ring, 

 into which the stump, or trunk of the tail, is 

 passed, in order to hold the saddle, and pre- 

 vent it from moving upon the withers and 

 shoulders. The species of cushion of which 

 this ring is formed, is called culeron ; it should 

 be sufficiently large, so as not to wound the 

 horse under the tail, an accident which hap- 



