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A Handbook for Horse Owners
enabling the rider to ride with a longer stirrup leather and thus gain more control with less restraint. The saddle shown in Fig. 7 represents a gain of about 4 inches on the horse's back, which in turn
produces a gain of an inch in the stirrup leathers. This saddle, which in some points is not unlike that
which cowboys use when breaking in wild broncos, is built upon principles of world-wide acceptance. The saddle can be inspected at Messrs. Owens, 62 Duke Street, London, W.
Fig. 8 shows a saddle of the Italian pattern, in which the cantle is actually slightly higher than the pommel. This is necessary on account of the very short stirrup leather which Italians use for jumping. It is for this reason also that the flap is cut so far forward. Knee rolls are sometimes added. This is a very comfortable saddle for jumping, and does keep the rider well in the centre, which the ordinary English pattern does not. But in the opinion of the writer, it is not of such general utility as the one depicted in Fig. 7.
A saddle is composed of the arch, the seat, the flaps, the pommel, the cantle, knee rolls, girth straps, safety catch, stirrup leathers and irons, girth 'D's' for sandwich case, and breastplate strapping, lined, leather lined, or stuff lined.