128 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



them ; but I am free to express an opinion as to their 

 appearance, and their improvement of hunting costume, 

 and to question any advantage over the old top-boot, 

 when the knees are fortified from thorns by good 

 buckskin. — I can better reconcile them with the resem- 

 blance of a foreign chasseur, than with the figure of 

 Lord Jersey on horseback, or the heaic idSal of an 

 English fox-hunter. Those who ride with their feet 

 full, or quite home, in the stirrup, will find great pro- 

 tection from the bruises and callous swellings, so com- 

 monly caused by the contact of the instep with the top 

 of the stirrup, by having the heel of the boot made so 

 long, that the stirrup cannot come far enough on the 

 foot to admit of such pressure. While on the subject of 

 stirrups, it is as well to say, that the spring bars affixed 

 to the saddles are not sufficiently to be depended upon, 

 as a precaution against so horrible an accident as 

 that of hanging in, and being dragged by, the stirrup. I 

 have seen an instance of a man falling over the left side 

 of his horse, with his right foot hanging still in the 

 right stirrup. No saddle should be without spring bars, 

 as they will probably act in most cases ; but it is throw- 

 ing a chance away to omit the additional security of 

 having the stirrup irons made to open with a spring, 

 when the foot is displaced. The advantage is obvious, 

 and, if the springs are properly tempered, no incon- 

 venience can ever arise. There is, probably, a saving of 

 expense and labour, which may form a recommendation 

 to the jack-boot, but it does not cost more now than 



