INTRODUCTORY. 



5 



one day on the near and the next on the off-side. This 

 change will ease the horse, and, by bringing opposite 

 sets of muscles into play, will impart strength to the rider 

 and keep the shoulders level. Whichever side the rider 

 sits, the reins are held, mainly, in the left hand — the left 

 hand is known as the ^' bridle-hand." Attempts have fre- 

 quently been made to build a saddle with two flaps and 

 movable third pommel, but the result lias been far from 

 satisfactory. A glance at a side-saddle tree will at once 

 demonstrate the difficulty the saddler has to meet, add to 

 this a heavy and ungainly appearance. The only way in 

 which the shift can be ol)tained is by having two saddles. 



NAOMI (a high-caste ARABIAN MARE). 



