Details of Side Saddles. 



325 



hunting-horn pommel was added. This addition eventually led to the reduction of the right- 

 hand pommel by the best makers to a mere indication. This improvement gave women as 

 strong indeed a stronger seat than most men obtain sitting astride. It was invented by Mr. 

 Fitzhardinge Oldacrc, to enable a gentleman to ride a match for a wager on a side-saddle. 



The woman's right leg grasps the upright pommel, while the knee of the left leg presses 

 upwards against the hunting-horn. In this position, on a well-fitting saddle, it is impossible for 

 a woman to be thrown as long as she retains her nerves. 



But to obtain this advantage the saddle must be fitted to the length and dimensions of 

 the horsewoman's limbs. The same saddle will not fit two ladies of the same height if the 

 limbs of one be thin and the other full and round ; indeed, it is more necessary that a lady 

 should be measured for her saddle than for her boots. Nothing can be more absurd than 

 buying a second-hand side-saddle without seeing it, and yet ladies buy and ride on second- 

 hand saddles, who would never dream of buying boots not made to measure. Sjde-saddles 

 are generally made too short. The following is a useful table of dimensions : — 



MEASUREMENT FOR A SIDE-SADDLE. 



For a lady 5 feet 6 inches high, igi inches long. 



According to the latest pattern patronised by fox-hunting amazones, the side-saddle is 

 built nearly flat from the front to the cantle. Buckskin seats are more expensive than 

 plain pigskin, but are well worth the extra expense for beginners. It is easy to cover a pig- 

 skin side-saddle with a shifting case of felt or buck-skin. 



Some persons have recommended the letention of the right-hand pommel, in order that 

 the timid horsewoman may have something to lay hold of in a moment of danger from a 

 fresh bouncing horse ; a much better plan is to attach a sort of leather handle on the off side 

 of the saddle, just where the hand would fall naturally when 

 sitting upright — this may be fastened to two buckles, and 

 removed when not required. 



The advantage of this addition is that if a horse begins 

 to flirt and bounce, a lady, without losing her right rein or 



disturbing her proper seat, can catch hold of the leather 



handle, and regain nerve and confidence. This safety strap 



may be made longer or shorter, according to the taste of the 



rider. The same buckles, when not employed for the strap, 



may be used to attach a waterproof coat or a sandwich case. 

 The hunting-horn pommel is made in two shapes — the 



one short, stumpy-looking ; the other curved into a large 



segment of a circle, and of a more elegant appearance on 



the saddler's stand — but, as the letter already quoted states, 



accomplished horsewomen agree that the latter form is no 



improvement, that it seriously interferes with a lady's rise in 



trotting, and would pin the rider down if a horse fell. As this pommel is not seen when a 



lady is mounted, its shape is of no consequence. It should be padded, so as to be as soft 



and elastic as possible. 



THE PRINCESS OF WALES' PATTERN. 



