i2 4 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



very easily sustain. On the other hand, let him 

 examine one with a straight head, and he will see 

 that the gullet-iron of the saddle being- further 

 away from him, the danger is lessened, and that the 

 shape of the latter is also of a less harmful charac- 

 ter than the former. Either would be bad enough, 

 but the one would be infinitely worse than the 

 other. 



It is sometimes the custom to use what is called 

 a ' numnah,' which is a kind of saddle-cloth, for the 

 purpose of protecting a horse's back when such is 

 inclined to be tender ; but if a saddle fits a horse 

 properly and is properly lined, as I have endea- 

 voured to explain it can and should be, such an 

 addition is unnecessary. I will, however, explain 

 that numnahs are made of felt, sheepskin, and 

 leather. Either of these answers the purpose. The 

 latter is, however, the most workmanlike, but it 

 must be kept soft with soap ; and, indeed, care and 

 the most perfect cleanliness is necessary with all 

 three descriptions, otherwise they are apt to get 

 hard and lumpy, and to cause the very evil they 

 are intended to avert. . 



Where a horse's back has been at all galled, and 

 it is inconvenient to throw him out of work, the 

 saddle may be ' chambered ' — that is to say, a 

 hollow formed in that part of it which would other- 



