30 THE ART OF 



to take the tail with the left hand to twist it 

 about for the purpose of passing it into the 

 crupper ; taking care to disengage the hair 

 from within the culeron, or ring of the crup- 

 per, that they may not break nor wound the 

 horse. Returning then from the near side, 

 you will lift up the saddle softly, to advance 

 it towards the withers, observing always, the 

 front bow should be three breadths of the fin- 

 ger from the shoulders, and that the crupper 

 does not draw too much, in which case it must 

 be loosened. You will then attach the breast- 

 leather in front, and finish by attaching the 

 girths. 



If you place a cloth, or schabraque upon 

 the back of the horse, you must take care 

 that it does not make any folds ; you must 

 observe also, that if the saddle was placed too 

 much in front, or too much behind, it would 

 wound the withers, or the reins, and constrain 

 the movement of the shoulders, or the hips. 



You will commence to unsaddle by detach- 

 ing the portrait or breast leather, and the 

 girths ; you will draw the saddle behind to 

 withdraw the tail from within the culeron 

 or ring of the crupper. You will lift the 

 stirrup straps, the crupper, and the girths 



