142 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



the g-irth-points separated to the extreme back and 

 front of the panel, and the girths crossing each other 

 under the horse's belly ; the stirrup-strap going 

 completely around the horse and buckling to a strap 

 sewn on the off side of the cantle. so that not only 

 may the rider reach it with her right hand, and thus 

 easily lengthen or shorten her own stirrup, but that 

 the pull, as she rises in the trot, may come not upon 

 the left side, as usual, but upon the right side, thus 

 keeping the saddle straight in its place upon the 

 animal's back. A saddle-cloth of felt, girthed sep- 

 arately upon the horse's back, affords a surface 

 for the saddle to move upon, and prevents many a 

 chafed back and "wrung" withers. The saddle 

 should fit the horse's back in every crevice and 

 angle, and only thus will he safely retain his hide 

 in an unblemished condition. A raw place is a 

 reproach to the rider and the owner. 



Every woman should learn to care for herself. 

 The clinging, helpless female is an awful nuisance 

 in an equestrian party, or on an afternoon ride. 

 Drawing-room manners are out of place in the 



