The breeches should be cut exactly like a man’s except that they should be more baggy above the knees. They must fit very closely at the seat and about the waist and should fit very tightly below the knee. They should always be reinforced with buckskin on the inside of the knees. Appropriate breeches are shown in the illustration on [page 109].
The coat should be single-breasted, with three or five buttons, according to the wearer’s figure and personal fancy, and rather loose fitting, quite long, with very full skirts coming below the knee when mounted. The skirts of the coat are kept in place by a tab which engages with the third button from the top on the breeches, just above the boots. The coat should be opened enough in the back to clear the cantle, so that the skirts will fall on either side of the horse. With the skirts so fastened at the knees, the thighs and upper legs are concealed and nothing is visible but a smart boot.
I consider this far the smartest, the most comfortable, the most modest, and the safest costume for cross-saddle riding.
In the following list will be found the average price for all riding clothes, etc., each good of its kind:
| Cloth riding habit | $75.00 | to | $100.00 |
| Linen and flannel habit | 45.00 | to | 60.00 |
| Waistcoat | 10.00 | to | 15.00 |
| Covert coat | 45.00 | to | 55.00 |
| Rain coat | 40.00 | to | 45.00 |
| Tights | 1.00 | to | 20.00 |
| Socks, ½ doz. pairs | 1.50 | to | 6.00 |
| Equestrian tights | 1.50 | to | 2.50 |
| Riding breeches | 10.00 | to | 18.00 |
| Boots (ready-made) | 12.00 | to | 15.00 |
| Boots (made to order) | 20.00 | to | 35.00 |
| Boots, laced and strapped | 25.00 | ||
| Leggings | 10.00 | to | 15.00 |
| Riding stocks, ½ doz. | 3.00 | to | 6.00 |
| Shirt waists, ½ doz. | 12.00 | to | 30.00 |
| Linen collars, ½ doz. | .75 | to | 3.00 |
| Neckties (each) | .50 | to | 2.00 |
| Belt | .50 | to | 2.00 |
| Silk hat | 8.00 | to | 10.00 |
| Derby hat | 4.00 | to | 5.00 |
| Sailor hat | 3.00 | to | 5.00 |
| Panama hat | 10.00 | to | 30.00 |
| Sombrero | 5.00 | to | 15.00 |
| Hat guards | .50 | to | 1.00 |
| Gloves | 1.00 | to | 2.50 |
| Riding crops | 2.00 | to | 10.00 |
| Whips | 3.00 | to | 5.00 |
| Sticks | 1.00 | to | 5.00 |
CHAPTER IX
SADDLES AND BRIDLES
Much discrimination is required in the selection of a side-saddle. In order to be comfortable it must fit both the rider and the horse, a condition harder to find than one would imagine.
The best makers carry different lengths of saddles in stock. The shortest measure eighteen inches from the front to the cantle, and the longest twenty-four inches. With each of these different lengths there are standard widths, and I cannot overstate the importance of a woman choosing a saddle that is suited to her conformation. On [page 140] of this book will be found a diagram, with instructions for measurement, so that if a good maker is not available the saddle may be ordered by mail, but I would advise any woman who wishes to select a saddle to take some experienced woman rider with her to the saddler’s and rely on her advice, as I have known many women to choose the wrong size of saddle and thus be rendered very uncomfortable. Trying a saddle in the shop is very different from riding in it on a horse, and it takes a great deal of experience to pick out what you require.
A side-saddle, in this country at least, costs quite a bit of money, but a good one, with proper care, will last for a lifetime, and, with a little adjustment, can be made to fit almost any horse. While there are hundreds of different makes of side-saddles on the market, the really good ones are very few.