io6 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



skirts, as they are called, which serve to protect 

 and cover the stirrup-bars, which would otherwise 

 be exposed. Behind the stirrup-bars the girthing- 

 straps are also riveted on to the side-boards. 



Over the girthing-straps and under the bar-flaps 

 the saddle-flaps are fastened. There are two large 

 leather or hogskin flaps, which are necessary to 

 protect the legs of the rider from rubbing against 

 the sides of the horse, and the latter from being 

 rubbed and galled by the former. 



So much for the outside of the saddle. 



The inside of the tree (that which is next to the 

 horse's back) is furnished with a covering of serge 

 (which is the material most frequently used), or 

 serge covered with linen, and this is stuffed with 

 horsehair in such a manner as to form a cushion 

 between the hard surface of the tree and the back 

 of the horse, and arranged so as to allow the space 

 along the inside and upper portion of the tree to 

 be clear, as also to avoid any pressure of any part 

 of the tree being possible. More or less than just 

 exactly thus much is bad, and this stuffing of hair 

 should exactly correspond with the shape of the 

 tree. 



Underneath the saddle-flaps are what are called 

 the panels, which are in reality no more than false 

 flaps of soft leather, which are also slightly stuffed 



