The Saddle, ^i 



a crupper. If neither of these " ifs" be a verity, then 

 the crupper may prevent the saddle running forward, 

 but will also wound the steed's tail, or set it a-kicking, 

 especially if a mare — perhaps, under favorable circum- 

 stances, both together ; in either case you must take off 

 the crupper, and what then? It is better to begin 

 voluntarily with a well-fitting saddle and a good seat, 

 than be kicked into it ; and therefore the cavalry crup- 

 per is an absurdity which every one else in the world 

 has thrown away ages ago ; and the Austrian, Bavarian, 

 and, we believe, many other German cavalries, dis- 

 carded some five or six years since. 



The breastplate might perhaps, in most cases, be dis- 

 pensed with, but in others it is useful in keeping the 

 girths in their place ; besides that, it gives a point of 

 attachment for some of the pack, and is indubitably ad- 

 vantageous for lasso draught ; it can do no harm, more- 

 over, unless it be too tight, which is generally the result 

 of cavalry commanding ofl!icers being as pedantic about 

 the rosette attached to it being at the same height 

 throughout their front, as infantry ones are about the 

 mess-tins being mathematically correct on the tops of 

 the knapsacks. 



