THE SIDE SADDLE. 



57 



hung up or dragged when thrown, cannot possibly become 

 detached so long as she remains in the saddle. The action 

 of this perfect safeguard is explained by the accompanying 

 diagrams. 



The back of the bar is fixed to the tree in the ordinary 

 way. There are only two moving parts, viz. the hinged 

 hook-piece, marked A, Figs, i, 2, and 3, upon which the 

 loop of the stirrup-leather is hung, and the locking bar, B, 

 upon which the skirt and the rider's legs rest. It will be 

 noticed that the front of the hook-piece, marked A, Fig. i, 

 is cut off diagonally 

 front and back, and 

 that there is upon 

 the back-plate a 

 cone, marked C, 

 which projects 

 through the back of 

 the hook-piece. The 

 locking action may 

 be thus described : 

 The skirt, with lever, pm -A 

 B, Fig. 2, is lifted, the 1 ■ ma 



hook. A, pulled for- 

 ward, and the loop 

 of the stirrup-leather 

 hooked upon it; it 

 springs back again 



(spring not shown) fjC 5 



and the locking lever, 

 B, falls down over it, 

 as at Fig 3. While in the saddle, one of the rider's legs rests 

 at all times upon the skirt and lever, which therefore cannot 

 rise; but upon the rider being thrown and dragged, the stirrup- 



