54 SEATS AND SADDLES. 



except by chance. Civilian riders would not approve 

 of the surcingle ; the same end may, however, be 

 attained by putting the girth- straps in the middle of the 

 saddle, and silting as nearly as possible over them. For 

 military purposes girths might be altogether dispensed 

 with, and only a surcingle used. 



There is an idea prevalent that if the girths are 

 placed as far back as indicated here (over the false ribs), 

 they must interfere with the movement of the horse's 

 chest and lungs much more than if placed well forward 

 over the true ones. This is, however, precisely contrary 

 to fact : the true ribs are firmly supported at both 

 ends to make room for the lungs by being drawn for- 

 wards ; the largest volume of lung lies directly beneath 

 them ; the greatest expansion is required and takes 

 place here. Under the false ribs lie the thin lobes of 

 the lungs, which increase their volume in a much less 

 degree ; they are therefore supported only at one end, 

 and expand bu^ little, serving chiefly as supports for the 

 diaphragm or midriff. But anyone who has not yet 

 arrived at the dignity of a " corporation " may easily 

 convince himself of the truth of this by putting on a 

 tight-fitting waistcoat and playing cricket in it ; he will 

 soon find the top buttons gone, and much less frequently 

 the lower ones, whilst a waist-belt will prove a con- 

 venience. The point from which the stirrup is suspended 

 has nearly an equal influence on the stability of the 

 saddle, and a much greater one on the form of the seat 

 than the position of the girths. If the stirrups be 

 wrong, all the rest being right will be of little avail." 



* Any defects that may exist in the English cavalry seat, and the 

 very glaring ones that are very obvious in the French seat, and 

 were the immediate causes of all the sore backs in the campaign 



