lded even and smooth, and placed on so as
to cover every part of the back that comes in contact with the saddle,
and in warm weather it is well to place a gunny bag under the blanket,
as it is cooler than the wool.

It will have been observed that, in the French service, the folded
saddle-blanket is tied to the pommel to prevent it slipping back. This
is well if the blanket be taken off and thoroughly dried whenever the
horse is unsaddled.

A saddle-blanket made of moss is used in some of the Southwestern
States, which is regarded by many as the perfection of this article of
horse equipment. It is a mat woven into the proper shape and size from
the beaten fibres of moss that hangs from the trees in our Southern
States. It is cheap, durable, is not in any way affected by sweat, and
does not chafe or heat the horse's spine like the woolen blanket. Its
open texture allows a rapid evaporation, which tends to keep the back
cool, and obviates the danger of stripping and sudden exposure of the
heated parts to the sun and air.

The experience of some of our officers who have used this mat for years
in Mexico and Texas corroborates all I have said in its favor; and they
are unanimous in the opinion that a horse will never get a sore back
when it is placed under a good saddle.

A saddle made by the Mexicans in California is called the _California
saddle_. This is extensively used upon the Pacific slope of the
mountains, and is believed to possess, at least, as many advantages for
rough frontier service as any other pattern that has been invented.
Those hardy and experienced veterans, the mountaineers, could not be
persuaded to ride any other saddle, and their ripened knowledge of such
matters certainly gives weight to their conclusions.

[Illustration: CALIFORNIA SADDLE.]

The merits of the California saddle consist in its being light, strong,
and compact, and conforming well to the shape of the horse. When
strapped on, it rests so firmly in position that the strongest pull of
a horse upon a lariat attached to the pommel can not displace it. Its
shape is such that the rider is compelled to sit nearly erect, with his
legs on the continuation of the line of the body, which makes his seat
more secure, and, at the same time, gives him a better control over his
arms and horse. This position is attained by setting the stirrup-leathers
farther back than on the old-fashioned saddle. The pommel is high, like
the Mexican saddle, and