T 



It is an important item that the hackney saddle 

 should be a close fit, but must not hurt the horse's back. 

 The larger the saddle the better for the horse, the weight 

 of the rider being spread over a larger surface ; and the 

 same rule applies to the comfort of the rider. The girths 

 should not be buckled tight, particularly when a 

 breast-plate is worn. The life of the rider should never 

 be trusted to a single girth, and when two single girths 

 are used they must be crossed. The best and safest 

 girth is the " Fitzwilliam," which is not only the most secure 

 but most comfortable for the animal ; as it consists of one 

 broad web band as the main or body girth, and a narrow 

 one passing through loops on the top of the broader one 

 as the safety girth, each one being buckled independently, 

 with three buckles in all at each end. 



The saddle pannel should be carefully and constantly 

 attended to, both as to the stuffing and cleanliness. The 

 back-stuffing (as it is termed by the trade) of a saddle is 

 a very important item in connection with the welfare of 

 the horse and the safety of the rider — none but the very 

 best and cleanest wool should be used ; where common 

 wool or flocks are used, a hard or long ride will cause the 

 perspiration to clog the same, and form it into knots, hence 

 the term " cut like a knife," thus causing wounds and 

 sores. 



The crupper and breast-plate should not be worn for 

 wearing sake, neither should double reins or double bits 

 for ordinary exercise or short journeys. After a day's 

 hunting, or few hours' ride, the saddle should by no 

 means be taken immediately from the horse's back on 

 reaching the stable, but the girths should be unloosed and 

 the saddle moved a few inches towards the croup, for the 

 purpose of allowing the horse's back to gradually cool 

 during the process of swilling the legs, &c., (see Un- 



4. i 



