SADDLES AND BRIDLES 207 



in maintaining a firm seat. The angle, the curve, and 

 the exact position of this leaping head is of utmost im- 

 portance. 



The angle should be such that the bearing surface 

 which it presents to the leg is parallel to the direction 

 of the upper portion of the leg, when in position. (See 

 Figs. 1 and 2, page 89.) 



The curve should be so arranged, that the leaping 

 head will catch the rider's leg about four or five inches 

 above the knee, but at the same time enable the leg 

 to get fully under it. This permits the rider, when 

 pressing against it, also to press the flat of the knee 

 against the flap of the saddle. If the leaping head is 

 too short, or not sufficiently curved, or arranged at 

 an improper angle, the rider will find in pressing against 

 it that the tip end of the leaping head will poke into 

 her leg instead of half encircling it, as it should. More- 

 over, in such cases, the more she presses against it, the 

 farther will her leg be carried outward and away from 

 the saddle, weakening her hold and bringing her weight 

 too much to the near side. 



As a rule, most side-saddles have two holes into which 

 the leaping head may be screwed, as desired. I have 

 yet to see, however, the need of the lower hole. When 

 the leaping head is used in this hole, it is so far away 

 from the upper crutch that the rider is unable to ob- 

 tain any purchase. (Of course the opposite extreme, 

 in which the "pommels" are too near together, is also 

 prejudicial against a firm seat.) The exact distance 

 between the two pommels is best determined by the 

 individual rider; a short-legged woman requiring pom- 

 mels nearer together, in order to get a good grip, than 

 a long-legged woman. 



Inasmuch as the lower screw hole for the leaping 



