84 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



I may add, before passing to another portion of my 

 subject, that where a screw-pommel is used it will be found 

 a wise plan to have it made with the thread of the screw 

 reversed ; by which I mean that the pommel should turn 

 from left to right, in place of the ordinary way. By this 

 arrangement the left knee pressing against it serves to fix 

 it all the more firmly, instead of, as is usual, misplacing it. 



I am often asked what ought to be the weight of a side- 

 saddle, and what the size. Much must of course depend 

 upon the dimensions of the rider. About eighteen pounds 

 is, or ought to be, the average weight of an ordinary saddle, 

 although my own were much lighter. I do not, however, see 

 that there is very much to be gained by riding in too light 

 a saddle. A few pounds one way or the other can make 

 little difference (except in racing) to a good horse, and 

 light saddles are sometimes apt to give sore backs. 



With regard to size, I consider that a lady of moderate 

 height — say five feet three, or thereabouts — ought not to 

 purchase a saddle less than nineteen inches long. Any 

 good maker will, however, give the proper proportions. 



The stirrup-leather of a lady's saddle is generally attached 

 to it by an iron ring, but I greatly prefer the spring-bar 

 attachment, same as is used with men's saddles. Many 

 ladies say that it is apt, with pressure, to come away, and 

 if this be the case, a greater objection could scarcely be 

 urged against it, but, for my own part, I have never found 

 it do so. 



Peat & Co., of Piccadilly, have brought out and patented 

 a really first-class article in this hne, namely, Bom's 



