68 Scats a7id Saddles. 



saddle give quite a diflerent form to the seat in conse- 

 quence. 



With respect to the upper surface or seat of the sad- 

 dle, we have to remark, that as the under one must be 

 large in proportion to the weight, so this should be 

 roomy in proportion to the bulk of the rider ; a heavy 

 man will always require a large under surface, but not 

 equally constantly a large upper one, for it is bone that 

 weighs ; and as, whatever the seat may be, it should be 

 permanent in some one part of the saddle, there is not 

 only no use, but a positive disadvantage, on account of 

 weight, in having it larger above than is absolutely 

 necessary. It is, however, the form of the upper sur- 

 face that decides most as to the permanence of the seat. 

 If what we may call the ridge of the saddle be perfectly 

 horizontal, the seat will be determined chiefly by the 

 length and position of the stirrup, because the two sur- 

 faces, rider and saddle, are in imperfect contact ; and it 

 is therefore usual to dip this ridge at some point and 

 spread it out into a more or less concave surface. Now 

 the form of the seat will depend altogether on the rela- 

 tive position of the loivest poijit of this dip ; if it be 

 placed far back, the rider will remain there, and if it be 

 placed in the centre, the seat will be also central ; and 

 for military purposes enough has been said to show that 

 this is its proper position. Nothing can be more cer- 

 tain than this, that it is the saddler, and not the in- 

 structor of equitation, that can most effectually and 

 certainly produce the uniformity of seat which is so 

 desirable ; but unfortunately few people ever think of 

 this. The sum of the whole matter is this — the laj'ger 

 the surfaces of the rider and saddle brought into per- 

 niaitent contact., the firmer will be the seat., and the 

 less will it depend on the stirrups or the rei?zs. 



The saddle-flaps serve in some cases to increase, in 



