THE AMERICAN SADDLER 25 



can seat, as represented by the cowboy of the western plains with 

 long stirrup straps, and no daylight between the horse and his rider, 

 differs essentially from that affected by the English rider, with his 

 short stirrups and constant up-and-down motion. That the Ameri- 

 can seat is easier to both horse and rider and more elegant hardly 

 needs assertion. The trot has been found unsuited to the saddle 

 by comparison with other gaits, such as the pace and canter, and 

 most emphatically as compared to the single-foot or running walk. 



The main elements of blood in the American saddler are the 

 Thoroughbred, especially that of the stallion Denmark by imported 

 Hedgeford ; and American trotting mares, particularly those of • 

 pacing families like the Tom Hals. To this blood has also been 

 added that of some of the best saddle horses of the western plains 

 and Kentucky. Among the mustangs there has been found occa- 

 sionally a beautifully gaited single-footer, whose character has 

 aided in transmitting the gait to the new breed. It will be seen 

 that the saddler is strictly a warm-blooded horse, somewhat of the 

 Thoroughbred type, but rather more compactly made and lofty in 

 carriage and action. Elegance of manners and style of action are 

 esteemed of greater value than finish and smoothness of conforma- 

 tion ; and yet in these last particulars he is more uniformly excellent 

 than the Thoroughbred or the American trotter. 



It is mainly the ability to go the regulation five gaits that deter- 

 mines the eligibility of a saddler to registration in the stud book of 

 the breed. Concerning gaits, we are familiar with the walk and 

 canter, and the trot, which is sometimes called the diagonal gait 

 because the legs on opposite corners move in unison, i. e., the left 

 fore leg with the right hind leg, and the right fore leg with the left 

 hind leg. In the pace both right legs move in unison and both 

 left the same, which has given rise to the term " lateral gaited," or 

 " side-wheelers." 



The pride of all the gaits is the single-foot, most elegant and 

 essential to standing in the breed. In this gait there is the same 



'Oentilation is very important ; k^cp the air in the stable pure. 



