98 RIDING, DRIVING AND KINDRED SPORTS 



taste which each man must decide for himself. 

 Many horses require a breastplate, but they are 

 not the fashion. Nevertheless, I should put 

 one on if I thought it desirable. In the same 

 way ladies' saddles must be of the very best 

 make, straight-seated and with safety bars, but 

 not safety stirrups. There is no more extrava- 

 gant article than a second-rate lady's saddle, 

 and the most expensive article I ever had was 

 a cheap (so called) side saddle. It gave every 

 horse it touched a sore back, and when I com- 

 plained I got an uncivil letter from the makers. 



I agree with Mrs. O'Donoghue, that those 

 saddles are the best for hunting in which the 

 rider can herself tighten the girths from the 

 saddle. 



One more subject requires to be dealt with, 

 and that is the dress of the rider. 



For ordinary men hunting on a moderate 

 scale, a black coat, a tall hat and white breeches 

 are the thing. Leathers are objectionable if 

 you do not keep a man, and a really service- 

 able white washino- material is still a desidera- 

 tum. Next to these some of the close- woven 

 fabrics made for breeches are useful, and top 

 boots and neat, not patent, butcher boots well 

 cleaned. Dogskin gloves and a neatly-tied 

 hunting scarf complete the outfit. Everything 

 should be well made and of the best of its 



