SIDE-SADDLE
.—The saddle upon which women ride is so called. The injuries horses sustain by the use of these saddles, when not properly attended to, exceed conception. It is well known by those who are much in public, and make their occasional observations as they ride, that most of the women about the Metropolis (who, it may be presumed, are taught in the schools) ride exceedingly ill, and to a spectator, most mortifyingly ungraceful; or, in words more expressive and explanatory, they bear near their whole weight upon the swivel-clog stirrup of the SADDLE, and little or none upon the back of the horse. The evident effect of this is, that the saddle, which should preserve a due and consistent equilibrium, compulsively preponderates with the weight of the injudicious RIDER, and has a constant bearing friction upon the WITHER on the off side, from whence originates inflammation, bruise, tumor, formation of matter, and not infrequently FISTULA, as a finishing consolation to the concern. When a comparison is made between the equestrian ability of the FINE LADIES in the environs of London, and the bounce-about self-taught damsels of the country, the former sink extremely in comparative estimation. The best and most certain means of insuring safety with a saddle of this description, is to have a hollow on the inside the pad which comes in contact with the off side the wither, so formed, as to admit of no bearing on that side at all. This is readily accomplished, by ordering a vacuum of the size of an inverted tea-cup, with elastic quilting to surround the edge, which taking a regular, equal and circular bearing, so completely protects the wither, that it is impossible an injury can be sustained.