Saddlery: The Complete Guide » (Revised)

Elwyn Hartley Edwards is a former editor of Riding magazine and is a consultant for Horse & Hound.  He is the the author of several books on horses, including, Wild Horses: A Spirit Unbroken and Wild Horses: The World's Last Surviving Herds.

Completely revised with up-to-date information on subjects such as the use of synthetic materials, new bitting systems, and current fitting methods, this guide will lead horse owners through the bewildering variety of saddlery, describing its construction, purpose, and usage.

Acknowledgements     ix
Foreword to the First Edition     xi
Introduction     xiii
Leather     1
Dressing the Hide
Colour
Parts of the Hide
Leather, Good and Bad
The Care and Cleaning of Leather
Metals and Materials     12
Materials for Bitting
Materials for Saddle Construction
The Bridle     16
The Reins
Attachment to the Bit
Bridles and their Scope
The Principles and Mechanics of Bitting     31
The Snaffle
The Double Bridle
The Pelham
The Gag
The Bitless or Nose Bridle
Segundo's System of Bitting
General Observations on Bitting
Bridle Fitting
Auxiliaries to the Action of the Bit     52
The Drop Noseband
Other Types of Noseband
Martingales
Some Snaffles     67
Strong Bits
Multi-rings
Snaffle Bridles
The Double Bridle     81
The Pelham     86
The Gag     95
The Bitless Bridle     98
The Hackamore
Curb Chains and Other Bit Accessories     105
Common Evasions and Some Remedies     108
Schooling Martingales and Reins     113
The Balancing Rein
Draw and Running Reins     123
Development of the Modern Saddle     127
Decline of Walsall and the Consequences
Suffragettes in the Saddle
Saddle Trees, Construction andPanels     140
Stirrup Bars
Adjustable Bars
The Adjustable Tree
Shapes and Sizes
Standards and Symmetry
Preparing the Tree
Panels
Panel Types
The Modern Synthetic
Ride on Air
Saddle Fitting     164
If the Tree Fits...
The Principles
Relevance of Condition
Results of Bad Fitting
Saddles for Children
Girth Fitting
Rider Considerations
Numnahs and Wither Pads
Saddle Types     192
Dressage
Jumping
General-purpose
Long-distance
Show Saddles
Polo
Racing
Children's Saddles
The Queen of Saddles
The Western Saddle
Full Circle
Girths and Breastplates     226
Girths
Breastplates
Stirrup Leathers and Stirrup Irons     233
Stirrup Leathers
Strirrup Irons
Boots and the Protection of the Legs     241
Boots
Bandages
The Magnetic Boot
Horse Clothing     252
Rugs
Rollers and Surcingles
An All-purpose Rug
Washability
Anti-sweat Sheets
Summer Sheets
New Zealand Rugs
Exercise Sheets
Hoods and Tail Guards
Sizes
Reflective Clothing
Nets and Masks
Stable Equipment and Some Stable 'Vices'     266
Headcollars
Control Halters
Poll Pads, Lead and Tie Ropes
Hay Nets
Buckets, Skips and Grooming Tools
Tricks and 'Vices'
Articles for Injuries
Breaking and Schooling Tackle     279
Lunge Cavesson
Lunge Rein
The Roller
The Crupper
Side Reins
Lunge Whip
Long Reins
The Importance of Good-quality Equipment
Breaking and Mouthing Bits
Specialist Tackle     288
'Bending' Tackle
Dumb Jockey
Overchecks
The Barnum
In-hand Showing Equipment     294
Whips and Spurs     297
Whips
Spurs
Index     305