RIDING 125 



own ; cind the dealer who lent him the horse on trial, he 

 added, " I have since learnt, knew he was a bolter, so he'll 

 never get a farthing — though I don't think he'll have the 

 face to ask ine." 



CHAPTER VIII 



RIBINO — OENERAL OBSERVATIONS- 

 POSITION OF THE SADDLE—THE BRIDLE- 

 THE STIRRUPS. 



The Saddle, which ought to be wide and roomy, should 

 be placed in the middle of the horse's back, a hand's breadth 

 (four or five inches) from the point of the withers, but so 

 as to give free play to the action of the muscles of the 

 shoulders. Lay the girths evenly one over the other ; draw 

 them only so tight as to admit comfortably the forefinger 

 to be placed between the girth and the horse's belly. Fit 

 the surcingle neatly over the girths, and do not buckle it 

 tighter than they are drawn. The large ring of the breast- 

 plate or martingale, when worn, should be placed two 

 inches above the breast-bone, and should allow of the hand 

 being laid flat between it and the horse's slioulders. 



The malposition of the saddle, particularly in horses with 

 upright shoulders, is the cause of many horses falling, from 

 its pressing too much on the shoulders, and by that means 

 confining the action of the muscles, which thus become 

 benumbed, and lose their elasticity. A partial deadening of 

 the limbs having taken place, the horse, from want of vitality 

 in the legs, stumbles, and is unable, through the torpidity of 

 the muscles, to recover himself, and falls to the ground ; in 

 many cases he has been known to fall as if shot. 



THE STIRRUPS. 



The length of the stirrups should be so adjusted that the 

 bottom edge of the bar hangs about three inches above the 

 heel of the boot. This length will be found most convenient 

 for the horse and his master in hack-riding. The method of 

 determining the best length for the stirrup is thus given 

 by Mr. Waite in his little book called " Graceful Riding " : 

 '* Take up the stirrup-iron with the right hand, at the same 



