150 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



for the purpose, and it should be well rubbed out 

 with the stable-rubber after it has been rubbed in. 

 The seat and panelling of the saddle should be 

 kept well brushed, and all dust and scurf well 

 beaten out, and every part of the saddle should re- 

 ceive proper attention. 



No saddle composition, such as ' saddle paste,' 

 should ever be used or allowed. They give, it is 

 true, a brilliant polish to the leather, but they are 

 nasty and sticky preparations, and grooms are ever 

 apt to overdo it and put on too much. It is a capital 

 thing for a lazy groom, who is able thereby to 

 make a dirty saddle appear to be clean, and so it 

 becomes but a means of glazing dirt. Moreover, 

 these preparations ruin one's breeches, and it is well- 

 nigh impossible to get the composition out of them. 



I would caution the reader also, if he wears 

 ridino'-boots of ordinary leather, and which are 

 cleaned with blacking, to be careful to see that his 

 servant is particular in removing any of the black- 

 ing which may rub off the boots on to the saddle- 

 flaps, inasmuch as, if this is not observed, and he 

 should use the saddle when wearing top or other 

 boots, they will suffer very considerably and per- 

 manently. 



With these remarks I will close this chapter ; 

 and I cannot think of anything which I have 



