RIDING ON HORSEBACK. 



91 



Fig. 56.— BIT AND BRIDOON. 



pressure upon the spine. A ring is fastened to either side, near the 

 top, in front, to which the breast-plate straps may, if desired, be 



attached. The girths are of webbing, 

 or better, of hair. The stirrup-leathers 

 run through bars which, in all well- 

 made saddles, are now made to close 

 with a spring clasp, which opens and 

 liberates the stirrup in case the rider is 

 thrown and his foot becomes entangled 

 in the stirrup. The stirrups are of 

 iron or steel, large enough to allow the 

 foot to enter. The bottom, upon which 

 the foot rests, should be an inch and 

 a half broad. It is either roughed up 

 or fitted with an India-rubber pad. 

 The breast-plate is used only in hunt- 

 ing across hilly country, and even then 

 is rarely needed. 

 The standing martingale is buckled to the bridle, and is a 

 nuisance. The running or ring martingales terminate in rings, 

 which are slipped over the reins, upon which they shde freely. 



For those who have learned how to use them, spurs are of great 

 asssitance to urge the horse forward, 

 and also in training and controling 

 him. But they must never be used 

 harshly, and horses are often excited 

 and maddened by untaught, indis- 

 criminate spurring. Inexperienced 

 riders had better not wear spurs. A 

 good riding- whip is quite sufficient for 

 ordinary purposes. It should be car- 

 ried in the right hand, butt uppermost. 

 In bridling and saddling the horse, 

 all parts of the equipments should fit 

 properly. The side-straps of the bridle 

 should be long enough to hold the 

 bits in place without drawing the lips 

 out of shape. The saddle-girths should 

 not be drawn so tight as to suffocate 

 and distress the horse. The stirrup 

 leathers should be of such length that the steps of the stirrup will 

 just touch the heel of the rider above the sole. This may be approx- 

 imately measured by the rider before mounting. Standing beside 



Fig. 57.— PARK SADDLE. 



