REVIEW— MR. BENCRAFT’S PATENT SADDLE. 
107 
this principle is carried out consists in the introduction of “ three 
elastic springs,” or bars of steel, into the seat of the saddle. “ One 
straight spring,” or steel bar, “ runs under the seat, about five 
inches in length ; the other two (steel bars) are in the form of 
arches, which are rivetted to the straight spring transversely, and 
play freely upon thin metal plates on the sides of the saddle- 
tree.” Such is Mr. B.’s own description of his invention. 
Any alteration of the seat of the saddle, if it is productive of 
any effect at all, must necessarily operate in a greater or less de- 
gree both on the horse and his rider : under these two relations, 
therefore, we shall examine the invention before us, and in doing 
so it will be our duty to keep stedfastly in view the common 
saddle ; concerning which it is but justice to its constructors 
— whoever they may have been — to say, that, as a whole, it must 
be admitted to be a neat and admirable contrivance for a horse to 
carry his rider upon, being equally easy, commodious, and orna- 
mental, for both parties. We should be sorry to see this harmony 
disturbed ; indeed, should certainly withhold our approval of any 
invention having a tendency so to do. This is by no means the 
case, however, with the one before us ; on the contrary, Mr. 
Bencraft argues benefits to the horse from its use. “ A complete 
j 'protection ,” he says, “ is secured to the spine by means of the 
arched springs, which also transfer the rider’s weight to the 
ribs of the horse, thereby enabling him to carry his burden with 
increased facility,” & c. “ The rider’s weight being almost wholly 
placed on the ribs, his withers are relieved from the equal share 
they have hitherto borne of it,” & c. 
Now, with all deference to Mr. Bencraft, we think this is hardly 
fair in respect to our common saddle. Is there any man, with any 
pretensions to being a horse- man, who would suffer his saddle, for 
want of stuffing, to come down upon his horse’s spine ? — or any 
horseman who does not know that the saddle ought not even to 
touch the withers of his horse 1 All that Mr. B. has said about 
the saddle bearing upon the ribs, and not upon the withers, is 
quite as applicable to the common saddle as to his spring saddle : 
the only difference between them, as regards the horse — and that 
in our mind is an important one — being, that in one case the 
living load is carried with a spring underneath it; in the other, 
not, or only, at least, with sufficient elasticity to diminish jar or 
concussion. That the animal may feel this spring upon his back 
not only a comfortable thing, but even be able, by means of it, to 
carry his burthen with more ease and effect — to travel longer and 
farther with it — we think is not at all improbable ; and so much 
advantage we are desirous to assign to Mr. Bencraft’s saddle, as 
far as the horse is concerned. 
