No more folds should be placed in the saddle blanket than are necessary.

What thickness of material shall be placed beneath the saddle? This is governed by two conditions, (a) the amount of flesh on the back, (b) the amount of work a horse is performing. Assuming that the conditions are service conditions, viz.: a moderate amount of flesh on the back and an immoderate amount of work to be performed, then the golden rule is to have ample material beneath the saddle in order to prevent the parts becoming bruised through heavy weight and long hours. Weight transmitted through a thick blanket and good numnah is distributed; that which is transmitted through a thin protection is concentrated.

It is well to draw attention once more to the fact that the blanket must lie level and unwrinkled.

Nine layers of blanket under the side bar can only be required for horses losing muscle, and where the back waste is great, there may not be sufficient to keep the saddle at its proper height above the spine. In such cases twelve layers may be employed, but it is better to use hay, grass, straw, rushes, and suchlike, placed between the folds of blankets under the side bar, rather than twelve layers of blankets.

The disadvantage of having too many folds under the side bar, apart from the risk of the ribs being bruised, is the difficulty of keeping them in position, unless the blanket is stitched at one or two points.

One-man can fold a blanket, but it is better done by two; the folds are then made with greater regularity, and there is less chance of a blanket being placed on the back with wrinkles in it.