VIl] 



RIDING AND SADDLES 



81 



itself in its right position. Using stirrup leathers 

 of unequal length causes saddles to wear un- 

 evenly, the stuffing to wear unevenly, the saddle 

 to rock, and the numnah or blanket to work 

 crooked. 



318. Girths.— Girths are made of leather, 

 webbing, cord, raw hide, twisted wool, hemp, 

 etc. The webbing girth is commonly used on 

 hunting saddles, and, if kept soft, is very suit- 

 able. But the leather girth, used on military 

 saddles, is better for hard work, is stronger and 

 lasts much longer, and, if kept clean and soft 

 by being well dubbed or greased, will cause 

 very little trouble. It should have slits made in 

 it longitudinally so as to allow for ventilation 

 and to prevent slipping. 



A girth should not be attached to only one 

 place on the side-bar, but to each end, and this 

 is done by a V-shaped attachment extending 

 from each end and joining the girth nearer the 

 front end, thus causing the girth to have an 

 uneven pull on to the whole length of the side- 

 bar and preventing rocking or dipping in of one 

 end of the saddle. 



The side-bar and the two sides of the V- 

 attachment form a triangle of which the side- 

 bar is the base. The side of the triangle nearest 

 to the shoulder is thus shorter and more vertical 

 than the posterior side. Thus the apex of the 

 triangle is not below the centre of the side-bar, 

 but about one-third from the front. The girth 

 is prevented from slipping forward on to the 

 play of the shoulder by the shape of the 

 horse's chest, particularly at the under surface 

 of the breast-bone (sternum). Some horses are 

 peculiarly shaped, and an attachment has to be 

 put on to keep the girth back. This is best done 

 by placing a surcingle around the belly over the 

 fans, not tightly, and then joining this to the 

 girth by means of a small strap underneath the 

 horse. The use of the crupper is the best way to 

 keep a hunting saddle from slipping forward, 

 but a crupper tends to rub the tail if used much. 

 A horse that is very badly shaped for saddle 

 work is better driven in harness. A flannel 

 saddle-cloth strapped on each side to the pannel 

 or sweat-flap is well suited for use with hunting 

 saddles, but must be well adjusted and kept 

 quite clean. 



319. Saddling-up. — The saddle must be 

 placed in the middle of the horse's back, the 

 front a hand's-breadth behind the play of the 

 shoulder, the numnah or blanket being well 

 raised into the arch of the saddle by being forced 

 up with the forearm. The girths must be 

 tightened gradually, and should only be tight 

 enough to keep the saddle in place. The better 

 the seat the rider has, and the more evenly he 

 rides, the looser will he be able to have his 

 girths. With bad, crooked riders the girths need 

 to be tight. The surcingle must lie flat over and 

 not be tighter than the girth. 



L 



Breast-plates are very seldom used now, but, 

 if used, must be fitted so that the upper edge of 

 the rosette is the breadth of three fingers above 

 the sharp breast-bone (anterior end of sternum). 

 It should admit the breadth of the hand between 

 it and the flat of the shoulder and between it 

 and the horse's chest. (For types of saddles, see 

 P. 74, etc.) Great care must be taken that the 

 girth is well clear of the elbows. 



320. Sore Backs: their Prevention and Cure. 

 — Every sore on the horse's back is due to a 

 definite cause, which should be and can be dis- 

 covered and remedied, thus preventing further 

 ill effects and allowing that which has already 

 been produced to recover itself. Galls are caused 

 either by friction or else by local arrest of the 

 circulation, due to pressure. Grooms, etc., must 

 be encouraged to show the first sign of a sore, 

 and severely punished for hiding anything. The 

 old procedure of punishing a man for causing a 

 sore is the surest way to cause him to be deceit- 

 ful. A man, if he causes a sore, must, of course, 

 walk his horse and himself, not so much as a 

 punishment, but for the horse's sake. 



Bad riding is most certainly responsible for 

 many sores ; nevertheless, I maintain that if a 

 saddle fits properly bad riding will not do much 

 harm, as most saddle galls are from pressure and 

 not friction. If a good horseman rides on a 

 badly-fitting saddle, it is quite possible that no 

 harm will result, but it is a risky procedure. 



321. A racehorse should have as narrow 

 girths as possible, and his girths should be as 

 far forward as possible, so as not to check his 

 breathing, but they must not interfere with his 

 elbows. If a rider begins to sit uneasily in a 

 saddle or to move about, he had much better 

 dismount for a mile or so. If he goes on until 

 he galls the horse, then he will have to walk. 

 A short walk will soon overcome the tired feel- 

 ing or stiffness that some riders get after being 

 in the saddle for a long time. It is generally 

 the result of having an unnatural and forced 

 seat. By getting off and walking, the rider is 

 easing both horse and himself. Quitting the 

 stirrups on a long march must not be allowed. 



The importance of walking one's horse as 

 much as possible, especially downhill and up 

 steep hills, cannot be too strongly impressed 

 upon horsemen. Bad-fitting saddles cause many 

 galls ; this is due to neglect in fitting the saddle. 

 Bad saddling also causes many galls ; this is due 

 to neglect on the part of the groom. Such 

 neglect may consist in allowing straps to get 

 under the saddle or numnah, in numnah or 

 saddle-cloth not being properly strapped to the 

 saddle, in the sweat-flaps or pannels being 

 turned in at one corner, in the pack (if any) 

 touching the horse, in creases in the saddle-cloth, 

 or in the girth being too loose or surcingle too 

 tight — causing a crease in the girth underneath. 



As pressure causes local death, it is clear that 



