STIRR UP-IR ONS. 1 1 9 



is by no means impossible or improbable that the 

 foot of the rider may, should his horse fall with 

 him, slip through the stirrup, and so he may get 

 dragged and sustain serious injury. On the other 

 hand, a similar result may occur if it is too small, 

 as his foot may get wedged in, and he may not be 

 able to extricate it. As stirrup-irons are made in 

 various sizes, it becomes an easy matter to secure 

 those which fit properly. 



The springs of the stirrup-bars, etc., which are 

 fixed on the saddle, should never be fastened, but 

 always be kept down. The reader will easily see 

 what I refer to if he will take the trouble to look 

 at any saddle. On lifting up the bar-flaps he will 

 see that at the end of them there is a spring-catch, 

 which opens or closes the bar, in order to allow the 

 stirrup-leathers to be passed in on to the bars. It 

 is this spring-catch which should be kept open. 

 The reason for this is obvious, and there is but 

 little chance of being dragged, if thrown, if this 

 advice is followed. If the ' stops,' as they are called, 

 are up, the chances are much in favour of a very 

 nice and complete accident, with a full amount 

 of damage, being secured. These stops are really 

 useless, as the stirrup-leather will remain in its 

 place fjuite as well as is required without them, 

 and I would advise the reader never to get into a 



