MODERN RIDING. 7 



CHAP. II. 



OF THE SADDLE AND BRIDLE. 



Section I. Of the Saddle. 



The saddle must be considered first with re- 

 lation to the horse, and secondly with relation 

 to the rider. 



I. With regard to the horse, the saddle 

 prevents the friction he would endure if bare- 

 backed, or if he had merely a cloth on ; and 

 it distributes the weight of the rider to the 

 parts most capable of bearing it. 



Without a saddle, the horse would sustain 

 the weight in the middle and weakest part of 

 the back; but with a saddle, the rider s weight 

 is distributed, as the saddle has bearings be- 

 fore and behind, but none in the middle. 



