THE SIDE SADDLE. 



61 



Though careful fitting and adjustment of the saddle will 

 reduce friction to a minimum, and will, in the majority of 

 cases, do away with its baneful effects, still with some very 

 highly bred horses the skin of the back is so easily irritated, 

 that during a long day's work, in hot climates especially, it 

 becomes chafed, and injury is inflicted either at the withers 

 or underneath the seat. Nothing is more difficult to deal with 

 and heal than a sore back. In a prolonged and arduous 

 campaign, I have seen regiments seriously reduced below 

 their fighting 

 strength by obsti- 

 nate sore backs. 

 A very great de- 

 sideratum, in my 

 opinion, is the 



new "Humanity" sponge-lined numnah, 

 another of Messrs. Champion and 

 Wilton's sensible inventions. This ex- 

 cellent preventative and curative Saddle- 

 cloth keeps the most tender-skinned 

 horse in a position to walk in comfort. 

 It is an adaptation of the finer kind of Turkey sponge, the 

 soft nature of which suggested itself to the inventors as an 

 agent for counteracting saddle friction. 



It is made in two varieties : (i) of bridle leather, lined 

 at the withers with this fine, natural sponge, thus inter- 

 posing a soft pad between the saddle and the withers 

 (a point where the chief strain of a lady's seat is brought to 

 bear during the action of the trot) ; (2) of a fine white felt, 

 lined at the back as well as at the withers with the same 

 quality of sponge, and intended for such horses as are apt 

 to become troubled under the seat of the saddle as well 

 as at the withers. The sponge has to be damped, pre- 



