The Saddle. 6 1 



going, that if the part of the saddle occupied by the rider 

 be placed over the line E /^ fig. 4, the horse's balance 

 is not necessarily deranged or the centre of motion in- 

 terfered with so long as the rider keeps this position ; 

 but there always remains the difficulty about the unequal 

 distribution of the weight and the saddle slipping. 

 Most English gentlemen ride more or less in this 

 fashion, and, from our way of rising in the stirrups 

 while trotting, are constantly transferring their weight 

 from one end of the saddle to the other. Of course the 

 horse's balance is thereby subjected to constant changes, 

 and not unfrequently a misunderstanding between horse 

 and rider ensues, terminating in a disaster ; but we must 

 not anticipate. 



There is another consideration of great importance 

 with regard to the place of the saddle — namely, that it 

 should interfere the least possible with the action of the 

 muscles of the horse's fore and back hand. Looking 

 at Plate II., we see the back covered with a broad ten- 

 don, into which, as has been already j^olnted out, the 

 muscles of these two parts are inserted, and on which 

 their contractile action is exercised. The saddle should 

 not extend much, if at all, beyond the limits of this flat 

 tendon, because, by doing so, it will be sure to impede 

 more or less the free action of the muscles, whereas 

 the tendon is rather assisted than impeded in its func- 

 tions by a weight being placed on it ; and it is also 

 evident that a rider sitting at one end of his saddle in- 

 stead of in the centre will joroduce the same injurious 

 effect. 



The next question to be determined is, To what part 

 of the saddle should the girths be attached? Now it is 

 very evident that, if the placing of the weight in the 

 centre of the saddle has the effect of transmitting an 

 equal amount of pressure to all that part of the horse's 

 back with which the latter is in contact, the attaching 

 6 



