26: 



The Book of tije Horse. 



body or mind, or as an accomplishment which his position in life compels him to acquire, his 

 vanity should not prevent him from availing himself of the saddle which makes it most easy 

 for a novice to retain his seat under difficulties. This, in its best English form, is the " Somerset 

 saddle," invented for the use of one of that noble family of hereditary horsemen which claims 

 the Duke of Beaufort as its chief, after losing a leg in the military service of his country, to 

 enable him to continue to perform his duties as commanding officer of infantry. This saddle 

 is much used by even practised horsemen at the time of life when the muscles are less strong 

 and the nerves less steady than " once upon a time." 



Indeed, for town use a Somerset saddle is essential, if an adult invalid is in his first years of 

 horse exercise ; in the country, where appearances are of less consequence, a plain saddle 



GERVASE M\RKHAM's I'EKFECT SADDLE. 



may be converted into a patent safety by very cheap contrivances — such as a covered pad of 

 brown Bedford cord. 



To be thoroughly comfortable and safe, it is as necessary that the pupil should be measured 

 for a Somerset saddle as for a pair of trousers or breeches. The seat must be large enough, 

 the ridge under the thighs fit in well, and the pads in front of the knees be arranged to a 

 nicety. A celebrated tragic actress, who had been in training to perform Joan of Arc on a 

 very common saddle, described the change to a well-stuffed well-fitted Somerset as " all the 

 difference between abject terror and perfect confidence." 



The slipperiness of an ordinary saddle may be avoided in a Somerset either by expensive 

 quilting or by using buckskin, which does not wear well in wet weather, or by the less common 

 plan of employing the rough instead of the polished side of the leather. Nothing is more likely 

 to cause a fall than a smooth saddle. All new saddles are slippery. 



The stirrups should be large and heavy. The best stirrup-leathers for ordinary use are 

 llie old civilian (not military) pattern ; but for the adult pupil there is a kind of stirrup-leather. 



