212 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



depends the safety of the rider. Even if the leather 

 does occasionally come out when it is not supposed 

 to, it is not likely to cause a woman who rides in a 

 correct way any serious inconvenience.* 



The leather in itself should be soft and pliable and 

 very strong. The arrangement for altering the length 

 of the leather should consist of a hook (covered with a 

 leather guard) instead of a buckle. In order that the 

 rider, when mounted, may be able to alter the length 

 of the leather without unduly raising her skirt, the 

 hook should be fairly near the iron and not in close 

 proximity to the safety bar as in a man's saddle. By 

 having the hook low down, there is also less danger of 

 its hurting the rider's leg. 



The stirrup-iron should be of steel, the same as a 

 man's iron. It should be small enough to prevent the 

 foot from slipping entirely through it, but large enough 

 not to squeeze the foot. The sole, or tread, of the iron 

 should be about two and one-half inches wide, as this 

 width is less apt to tire the rider's foot than a narrower 

 one. A roughened tread gives a firmer grip than a 

 smooth one, but rubber pads should not be used, except- 

 ing for children or for the very aged. The iron should 

 not be too light, for a light iron is more likely to become 

 jammed on the foot in case of an accident, moreover, if 

 lost off the foot while riding, a light iron is harder to 

 regain than a heavier one, as the latter does not swing 

 about so much. 



* Bars, working on the principle of those used in Whippey, Mayhew, 

 or Martin saddles, are very satisfactory. The bar on many Champion 

 Wilton saddles cannot come out as long as the rider is in the saddle, 

 which is an advantage; but, on the other hand, were she thrown with- 

 out dragging the leather with her, and were the horse to gallop on alone 

 the leather immediately flies off. To obviate this difficulty these sad- 

 dles are provided with an extra iron in a case. This convenience 

 might well be used in connection with any hunting saddle. 



