Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-10-19
SADDLES.

Some ono well informed on the sub
ject Of saddles, says they are almost in
infinite variety, nevertheless the most
important kind may he classed into
about dozen different styles or makes.
Each Of these styles has its admirers.
The English saddle, proper, IL padded
underneath, and is leather covered, with
no horn in front aud only slight rise
behind, II is very light and easy for
the horse. II lis also easy for the rider
when he has once become accustomed
TO IT, The saddle largely used by our
government for cavalry service was
called the Mcclellan saddle. This il u
rather deep seated saddle, with high
projections in trent and rear of the seat,
coming to round point with straps to
hold the accoutrements These are not
padded on the mdcrsidc, which neccssi-
tates the use of blankets under them to
protect the horse. These saddles are
used with wood stirrups, and are
sometimes furnished with cruppor and
breast pieco 10 keep them from slip
ping. 49,
The Texas saddle is IN entirely dilier-
ent affair from either of the above, and
is built on what il called n Texas tree
the tree of the saddle being wooden
framework. The wood Of the tree is cut
out along the back, but the front rises
up into broad, round, fiat pommcl,
that rises rather high the rear of the
seat is also high, thus furnishing deep
seat for the rider. These are leather
covered, and generally we'll finished,
and have TO he used with blankets.
They are generally used with one
girth, bnt in some cases they have two.
The girth most popular is braided
horse hair, with large ring in each end.
These are made fast to the saddle on
each side by long tiestraps, which en-
able the rider to draw the girth so tight
that it is impossible for it to slip or
give; and in some eases they clnctnre
their horses 50 tight ~ to almost cut
them in two. Where they use two girths
the rear one is placed just forward of
the flank and over the larger part of the
horses belly. This is also ottentimes
so tight rs to make the horse uncomfort-
able, and is fruitful cause of " buck
ing" The object of the two girths, and
the drawing Of them so tight is, that
when the riders ''rope" cattle, as it is
called, in other words, throw their lariat
over wild steer, one end OF which is
fastened to the horn of the saddle, it is
absolutely necessary that there shall be
no give or turn to the saddle.
Colorado has also its style OF saddles;
there being popular manufactures of
them at Denver and Pueblo. They do
not look very much like the Texas
saddles, and have a rather different
shaped tree, the horn in front being
comparatively small, and rising somewhat
higher than that of the Texas saddle.
Being high in the front and rear, they
make very deep seat for the rider
from which he must be thrown upwards
almost two feet to be nnseated. These
are used with wooden stirrups, and
leather guards down the stirrup straps
to protect the riders legs from the
horse. They are used with girths made
of horse-hair, and tied with straps at
each side, no buckles being used. On
the rear, and at each side in front, are
long buckskin thongs with which the
rider ties his extra clothing or blankets
to his saddle. These must also be used
with saddle blankets.