THE SADDLE PROBLEM

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THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

717 rible blow, whatever the cost may be-where the same H i e s will upon occasion be capable of dismounted action, and may be moved into it at great sliced? Or shall our prime objective be the dismounted action, with mounted action as secondary? It is perfectly plain what a wide difference should exist in the training, mounting. packing and equipment of cavalry for whichever &pose is to predominate. However, the consideration of this principle belongs to those who stand at our head. Assuming that our principle is to develop along the first mentioned line, there arises the more practical detail of the principles of saddling, with which this article is primarily concerned. We have a given weight to carry and the first question to arise-in connection with the saddle-is as to the bearing surface upon which this may be distributed. Naturally we wish to utilize every inch of it, for the sake of our mount, and it is assumed that all consideration is due that mount. Having determined as far as practicable the form, extent and nature of this bearing surface, the next question is to fit the under surface of the saddle to the same in such a manner as, first, to preyent injury to the bearing surface of the back ; second, to interfere the very least with him in the performance of his function, and also, naturally, to adjust the load in as even a balance as possible and with its center of gravity as low as possible. The latter (referring to the load) does not enter into the present paper. As to the bearing surface of the back, the restriction offered must be used to fix its limits. There must be no direct pressure on the withers, nor any restriction of the free movement of the upper end of the shoulder blades. That constitutes the limit forward. To the sides, a perpendicular to the ground, tangent to the sides gives us the technical supporting area, but as we move to the rear we realize that pressure on the ribs directly affects the lungs, and consequently the breathing of the horse. This tendency increases particularly after the eighth or last true rib is passed. As to the limit of area toward the loins, that is more difficult to determine and involves the function or action of .

THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

BY FIRST LIEUTENANT

GORDON JOHNSTON. THIRD

CAVALRY.

HE question of “sore backs” has been under consider- ‘T ation and discussion for a long time, and without any decided practical results having been achieved. The service saddle has been subjected to repeated attacks, and the writer would gladly join in them if he could at the same time bring forward a substitute which will answer all demands with greater satisfaction. To condenin it without offering a better is futile. To carry our rifle and pack is the point where we are all stopped-when it comes to a change. However, one way toward results is the examination of the fundamental principles involved, a clear understanding of the problems and the fixing of a definite objective or ideal in our minds. There can scarcely be any doubt but that American ingenuity and practical common sense, will find the solution. The first question (and that is also far from finding a concensus of opinion upon the answer to it) is, What sort of a cavalry are we going to have?” Shall we be mounted infantry trained also for mounted action in battle, or shall we be cavalry trained also for the action of mounted infantry when the necessity arises. We are practically all of the opinion that both actions are necessary and essential. but they canhot go evenly in hand without detriment to one or the other. In other words, shall ours be a galloping cavalry, where celerity, solidity and certainty of striking are our objectives, where the horse is a weapon, and where the troop, squadron, regiment, brigade or division is also one powerful weapon with which a commander may strike a ter.

THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

the back. At any rate, we see that our bearing or contact surface of the under surface'of the saddle, and the true supporting area of the back, assume the form of a triangle deduced from the restrictions offered by the back of the horse itself. Now as to the rearward limits. We know that the broad flat muscles along either side of the backbone furnish a natural supporting area, and it is generally accepted that we may not trespass on the loins, because there the back is weakest. But there is a still more important restriction, which lies in the function and action of the back. Saddles are generally fitted, neccessarily, to horses standing still. As a matter of fact, so long as they are standing it doesn't make much difference what sort of a saddle is put on. When it comes to the horse in action, the affair has quite another aspect. There is a forward and backward slide of the shoulder blades, a contraction and expansion of the ribs, and a regular undulation of the back. The last is not only a most important consideration in .this connection, but a vital one in all matters pertaining to horsemanship. Step for step, stride for stride, there is an upward and a downward swing in the back, extending from about the eleventh dorsal vertebra clear through the lumbar vertebrz. The muscles involved in this action are, for the upward swing, or arch, principally the psoas magnus and psoas par-vus, secondarily the transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis and the latissimus dorsi; for the downward swing, principally the longissimus dorsi, and secondarily the multifidus spinae. Less technically, the former lie under and on both sides of the backbone and are attached from the same to the bind-quarters; the latter are above the backbone on both sides, and the principal one (longissimuq dorsi) is one with which all are familiar. With this one a horse kicks when the front feet are fixed, and rears when the hind ones are on the ground. It is, however, the deep and absolutely concealed psoas mup'ys. etc., which are most important. They bring the 'haunches under, bring the powers of all the others into a position where they may have full play. It may be that this is the real explanation of the track saying that "They run ' * - -

THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

719 in all sorts of form," and we know that they jump and trot in all sorts of forms, too. Let this go as a fact, as it is not in place to discuss this function here, especially as I hope to offer a more technical paper later on the subject. We see at once that this action will have a tendency to lift and lower the pommel and cantle of the saddle. The further the saddle's bearing surface extends to the rear the more dip or dig will be imparted to the pommel's end. and conversely, as the forehand lifts and the back inclines to sink, to the cantle end. But if the bearing surface of the cantle end of the saddle has an upward curve, and that of the pommel is so rounded and curved that it will fit into the hollow just back of the withers on both sides where it will rest on true ribs and muscle, we see that this play is not liable to cause injury. The weight on the saddle has this tendency also, from the inclination of the back, when thc horse is in motion, to vary from the horizontal, resulting in tilting first one end and then the other. So the saddle should be made fast only at one point, and that hy way of the girth passing over the true ribs and sternum. For lack of definite data let us close our triangle by a point about the sixteenth vertebra with the under surface curving towards the fourteenth. It does seem that our service saddle departs considerably from the above deductions. First, the under surface of the side bars is nearly straight, and has practically no curve at the ends, thus digging; into the horse, front and rear-due to the action of the back-when the horse is in motion. May we not assume that this is at least partially the cause of sore backs? I am leaving entirely out of consideration the part played by the rider, and saddles which are not properly fitted. Second, the quarter straps, binding down the pommel and cantle ends, seem to work directly against the natural action of the back, and intensify the power of the side bars to cause injury. May we not find here also the reason for the slipping of the blanket, due to the wave-like undulations forward and rearward of the back, and the rocking or tilting of the weight borne on the saddle, with corresponding digging ofthe two ends? Doesn't it seem also unfair that we put the horse in

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THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

a straight-jacket, as it were, tie down the very muscles that are most necessary, and then require him to go all gaits and to jump, also? It goes without saying that the backbone with its thin defense must be protected, and that the same defense or open gullet should offer some ventilation. When the gullet is entirely open, as in the service saddle, we find also two heat-producing bodies directly in contact with one another-the back of the horse and the seat of the rider. The tendency will be to maintain at least a fixed degree of heat, if not to produce more. Whereas, if a non-conductive substance is interposed between these heat producing bodies, with a passage of air from pommel to cantle, we see at once that the heat will be reduced. The non conductive layer should be utilized to make the seat as comfortable as possible for the rider, for the part of his anatomy upon which he sits is none too well protected by skin and bone if he sits correctly. If it is hard or too uncomfortable, he will, instinctively and even unconsciously, attempt to find a more easy position. ’ This leads to an improper use of the stirrups, and a pushing back against the cantle-thereby digging the cantle end of the side bars still deeper into the back, with all the attendant e*ls. The protection of the back from direct shock is also necessary. If anyone thinks that a rider weighing about one hundred and fifty pounds can’t hurt a horse by thcmping on his back he is much mistaken. I am ‘convinced that this discomfort to a horse’s back equals that to his mouth in bad riding, and is the cause of much misconduct on the horse’s part. The construction, therefore. should be such as to break this shock as much. as possible without raising the rider too high from the horse. Furthermore.,neither our saddle nor girth nor anything else should interfere with the rider’s thigh and knee restillg smoothly, and finding a secure grip, or his lower leg having a constant light feeling of the horse’s sides. That the knee and thigh must find an easy, secure resting place will hardly be questioned, but the position of the lower leg will probably raise a question in many minds. Nevertheless this is a most important principle, and 781

THE SADDLE PROBLEM.

particularly so for military riding, where only one hand is free to do the riding. The reins guide the forehand, but the lower leg the haunches. The driving power of-the horse lies in his haunches, and for that very reason the control of that power is most important. In every change of direction or turn. the lower lea resting on the girth or just in the rear of it, should act in harmony with the hands. Further, it is the lower leg which collects a horse by bringing his haunches under him. Also we find that it is one of the most potent driving aids. As the ribs expand and contract the lower leg of the rider plays to them. By alternate pressure, in harmony with the contraction, we increase the same, and consequently, by reaction, the expansion, and the horse feels the impulse to move faster. On the contrary, by restraining the expansion his impulse is to reduce the gait. These are natural aids, and easily comprehended by the horse, whereas when a jab of the spur is his first notice. it must give him a shock, and does appear a bit crude. The stirrups must be hung so that the thigh and lower leg may most easily and directly perform their duties. Let me repeat that this paper is not offered as a solution, but to tempt others to interest themselves in working out the ptob-lem. At any rate, let us give the first and greatest consideration to the animal which bears us. Let us get the very best saddle, then fit our horsemanship to the horse in the Same manner, and then let us ask for nobler animals. These secured, it will be up to us to-show what can be done.