110 HOKSK MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



actual weights respectively marked on them. One or 

 two cloths, weighted with leather up to 4 Ibs. or 5 Ibs., 

 will come in useful ; while there should be one, at least, 

 capable of currying about 21 Ibs., so as to obviate the' 

 necessity of putting on two small ones, for the saddle 

 will then have less play than it would, were the latter 

 employed. 



Each pocket of a weight cloth should be provided with 

 a loop, for a strap which should be sewn to the rear 

 part of the cloth to pass through, and thus to 

 secure the leads. The strap should buckle on to the front 

 part of the cloth, beyond the saddle flap. If the buckle 

 be to the rear of the flap, the rider, when using the 

 whip, might hurt his knuckles against it. Or the pockets 

 may be attached to their flaps by buttons. To prevent 

 the weight cloth slipping off during a race, it should be 

 secured by a strap, which is made to pass over the flap 

 of the pannel of the saddle. 



The leads should be thin and very pliable, and 

 may be covered with wash-leather, on which it is con- 

 venient to mark their respective weights, which will 

 average about -J- lb. There should also be a few light 

 leads to make up exact weight. In order to obtain in- 

 creased pliability, leads of half the ordinary thickness 

 may be sewn up in pairs. 



Covering them with wash leather will make them less 

 liable to slip out of the pockets of the cloth. 



In order to save the horse from being hurt, no lead 

 should be put into the pockets over which the girth 

 passes. 



A weight cloth should be placed well forward, with 



