264 



HOW TO RIDE A HORSE. 



durable. They should be just long enough when let out 

 to their full extent, to allow the ball of the foot to touch 

 the stirrup when the leg is stretched down to its fullest 



Fia. 26. 



■ a. The bars of the clasp. 6. Is inserted like a knife-blade on a spring 



e. The same partly open. d d. The ouris by which the clasp is fastened 



to the saddle, and are covered Dy ine leather. 



extent. It is sometimes desirable to ride with the stirrups 

 thus long, and any excess of leather beyond what is re- 

 quired for this^ will be inconvenient when riding with a 

 shorter stirrup. 



The Stirrup-irons should be large enough to allow 

 the ball of the foot to pass easily through them, and noi 

 less than 1| inches wide at the bottom. A very light 

 stirrup is objectionable, as it is more easily lost by the foot 

 and less easily recovered, than one of medium weight. 



Saddle-cloths. — These are of two sorts. The first is 

 that which is attached to the rear of the saddle, and the 

 office of which is to protect the rider^s coat from being 

 soiled by the perspiration of the horse. They are voted 

 " slow" by modern riders. 



