54 SIDE-SADDLES. 



extent, the excess of weight which ahiiost every rider 

 puts on the near side of her saddle ; this good effect 

 beino- due to the fact that the off attachment of the 

 balance strap is farther away from the centre line 

 (axis) of the animal's body than the near attachment ; ' 

 and consequently the pull of the balance strap on the 

 off side acts to greater mechanical advantage than the 

 pull on the near side. 



BREAST-PLATE. 



The breast-plate is attached at one end to the girth 

 or girths, and at the other end to the staples of the 

 saddle. Its use is to prevent the saddle shifting back- 

 wards, as it might do if the girths were slack, espe- 

 cially if the animal was very narrow waisted. Even 

 with a well-shaped horse, a breast-plate is often useful 

 on a long day and In a hilly country. It is much In 

 favour with hunting ladies. Staples are small metal 

 loops which are fixed to the front part of the saddle-tree. 



W^EIGHT OF A SIDE-SADDLE. 



In order to avoid giving a horse a sore back and 

 consequently disabling him for the time being, It is 

 essential to have the tree rigid, so that the weight may 

 remain evenly distributed over the bearing surfaces of 

 his back, which rigidity cannot be obtained without 

 having the tree fairly heavy. The necessary width 

 and length of saddle and strength of upper crutch and 

 leaping head are also questions of weight. Hence If 

 we require a saddle for rough and dangerous work like 



