i2o THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



saddle without first looking under the bar-flap on 

 each side, and making sure that the stops are down. 

 It is a great nuisance to most people to have to 

 alter the length of the stirrups after mounting, and 

 especially if a horse is at all fractious, and, if I may 

 be pardoned for saying so, I always think a man 

 looks such a helpless fool when he is slewed round in 

 his saddle while the groom is altering the stirrup- 

 irons or girths for him, the horse, perhaps, mean- 

 while dodging about all over the place. In order 

 to prevent this, the following rough guide serves to 

 show pretty accurately the proper length of stirrup 

 for ordinary people, according to their height, 

 length of leg, etc. If a man has long legs, he 

 generally has long arms, and arms and legs are 

 much of the same character in each individual. 

 Now, if it is desired to gauge the length of stirrup 

 required, adopt the following plan : Stand facing 

 your saddle, take up the stirrup-iron with one hand, 

 and, drawing it out to the full length of the leather, 

 measure it with the other arm ; the fingers of the 

 hand of the measuring arm should be extended till 

 they touch the stirrup-bar. The foot-bar of the 

 stirrup-iron should touch the side of the body 

 under the armpit. If too long, shorten, if too short, 

 lengthen, the stirrup-leathers till they are the exact 

 measurement. They will, on mounting, be found to 



