Co?i tents. 

 PART I. 



SEATS AND SADDLES. 



CHAPTER I. 



the framework of the horse considered from a 

 mp:chanical point of view. 



PAGB 



The four legs are the supports of the spinal column which bears 

 the burden directly — There is one portion of the spinal col- 

 umn round which all the others move : this is the centre of 

 motion of the horse — The head and neck project beyond the 

 basis on which the animal stands ; the position of the centre 

 of gravity modified by this — The horse's fore legs are, more 

 particularly, bearers, the hind ones propellers — The action of 

 the horse will depend on the relative positions of these two 

 centres, which will be shown by the hoof- tracks, and is also 

 easily recognizable by the ear — The relative positions of the 

 two centres of gravity and motion may be adjusted as the 

 nature of the service demanded requires, by simply altering 

 the position of the head and neck ; and this is equally true 

 whether the horse be in motion or at rest 31-54 



CHAPTER II. 



THE SADDLE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SEAT. 



The saddle should be adjusted to whatever seat may be adopted 

 for a particular purpose, and not vice versd the seat to the 

 saddle — Its size should be proportioned to the weight it will 

 have to support: its shape should be adapted, on the one 

 hand, to the horse's back ; on the other, to the rider's seat 

 and legs — The weight should be so placed as to press equally 

 over the whole under surface of the saddle ; there must be 

 no lever action : all of which is best attained by making the 

 seat central, placing the girths also in the centre of the sad- 

 dle, and, finally, the stirrups as near this point as can be con- 

 veniently done — For military purposes, blankets in some 



