io8 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



used, and such will last fairly well ; but that is the 

 only saving of expense which can be entertained in 

 the construction of a saddle without sacrifice of 

 efficiency. 



Now, the shape of saddles, what may be termed 

 their ' cut,' may and does vary very considerably. 

 To my way of thinking, provided that it is large 

 enough, there should be as little as possible on a 

 horse, whether in the way of saddle or bridle, etc. 

 If a horse is of a good shape, the less he is covered 

 up with leather the better. Some people prefer to 

 have their saddles cut deep, so as to allow them to 

 sit down in a hollow, as it were. I cannot say I 

 like a deep-cut saddle. Where a horse has an un- 

 usually hollow back, the tree must of course be 

 made on purpose to fit it ; but for horses whose 

 backs are of an ordinary shape, I cannot think that 

 a deep-cut seat can possibly fit as well as one which 

 follows the line of the back more closely. Doubt- 

 less a very fat man may require a deeper-cut saddle 

 than an ordinary individual, and I do not for a 

 moment wish it to be inferred that there is but 

 one pattern of saddle, for the contrary is very 

 much the case ; and I consider that a man should 

 be measured for his saddle, and that such is quite 

 as necessary as that he should be measured for his 

 breeches and boots. But I do think that a saddle- 



