Many pages are devoted to the art of saddle fitting, and the importance of correct girth fitting is emphasised. How a traditional saddle is made and the parts that it is made of are explained, and a new inclusion to this edition is the development of synthetic and treeless saddles. The development of the saddles we use today is explored, firstly looking at the contribution of Caprilli, Toptani, and others. When should you use either a continental, chambon or de gouge martingale? What about a balancing rein? The main bit families have their own chapters - snaffle, pelham, gag, bitless and double bridles - and the use of derivatives of these are explained, as are some of the 'newer' types of bit such as the Myler and Mikmar. Then bitting systems and bit families and proper fitting are discussed. The book starts out with in depth look at the sort of leathers used in saddlery, how it is made and how to care for it. In Saddlery, all items used with the horse, are explained, and some items that are no longer in use - such as the Bucephalus noseband - are lamented, while the purpose of others which are commonly used but misunderstood by many are outlined. Some are heinous and probably no horse deserves them, but such devices will be always be used by the incompetent rider in an attempt to conquer their unfortunate and probably confused horse. There are no two ways about it - there is a mind-boggling array of equipment that is used - and misued - on the horse. The text has been substantially updated to include information and commentary on new practices and equipment. It's a larger format book for one thing, on a semi-gloss type of paper, which lends itself well to the addition of colour photographs and a greater number of line drawings.īut that is all merely cosmetic. My old copy of Saddlery is a 1977 reprint from the 1963 original, and the newly updated work adds much. This is a welcome update to the original work. The latest edition of the equestrian classic Saddlery was released just a few months before the death of its renowned author, Elwyn Hartley Edwards.

Saddlery by Elwyn Hartley Edwards