THE EQUESTRIAN ART. 265 



fcarce poflible to ride thofe horfes without mar- 

 tingales (particularly in the fummer feafon) 

 which have acquired the troublefome habit of 

 toiling up the head ; nor do I know of any- 

 other means to reclaim them. 



The Englilh saddle (I fpeak of thofe made 

 by capital artifts) is highly improved within the 

 laft twenty or thirty years ; not only in refpeft 

 of fymmetry, fitnefs, and beauty, but of eafe, 

 both to the rider and the horfe. But nothing 

 has contributed fo much, in the modern faddle, 

 to the eafe and convenience of the rider, as the 

 forward projection of the pads, where the knees 

 reft, and the fituation of the fkirts, or flaps, 

 above and below the knee. It is true, the 

 knees are apt to be galled in a fong journey, 

 by the ftirrup-leathers, which are now placed 

 without the long flap ; but they may be occa- 

 fionally drawn beneath it. The faddle is fe- 

 cured by two girths only, and thofe placed ex- 

 actly one over the other, appearing as if fingle. 

 The circingle is out of fafhionable ufe, except 

 upon the turf, and faddle-cloths are, at prefent, 

 laid afide. As for the crjjpper, nothing is 

 deemed more unfportfman-like and awkward ; 

 and whether from prejudice or not, I cannot 

 help conceiting, it always detracts from the 

 figure of the horfe. Where a horfe has a good 

 (houlder, and the faddle fits him, a crupper is 

 totally unneceffary : but I cannot commend the 



tafte 



