THE HORSEMAN. 13 



the rider wishes to lengthen or shorten the stirrup 

 leather; and can even be done with facility when 

 mounted. 



The stirrup-irons should be in size proportioned to the 

 rider's feet ; but they should be so shaped tha,t the rider 

 can at all times and under all circumstances, disengage 

 the feet from them. 



The distance from the bottom iron, inside, to the eye 

 of the stirrup, should be, at least, five and a half inches ; 

 for there is safety in a high stirrup, as the rider could not 

 be dragged if unhorsed. 



The crupper, independently of its being an ornament, 

 serves to keep the saddle in its proper place on a horse 

 that is lower in the withers than the croup, or while on 

 descending ground. It is absolutely necessary for the 

 heavily laden horse travelling over an uneven country. 



The breast strap is also useful, and, in fact, indispen- 

 sable, on horses that are higher in the withers than the 

 croup, particularly on ascending ground, preventing the 

 saddle from slipping on the horse's loins. It should 

 always be slackened when the horse drinks, and never 

 be so tight as to impede his breathing. 



SECTION II. The Bridle. 



A bridle should consist of a bit with a curb and a 

 bridoon or snaffle, with separate headstalls united by one 

 brow band, each with distinct reins : one of this descrip- 

 tion is sometimes called " a double bitted bridle." 



3 



