Felt Saddle Cloth (Numnah): Two Pieces Whip-Stitched and Bound in Coloured Cloth (Hasluck, Saddlery, 1904)

"As a rule, saddle-cloths (Figs. 16 and 17) are made of felt in the same shape as the saddle, but a little larger." In the army they are called numnahs; he says felt "is certainly the best material to use for the purpose, but kersey, cloth, and holland have been commonly employed."

Lay the saddle on the felt and mark round it a little larger (marking round the saddle is our way; he gives only the rule). Cut the cloth in two pieces, one for each side, with a small curve at the back, rising a little at each end. Felt comes in blue, brown, fawn and other colours.

Stitch the two pieces together with a whip stitch, then stitch a piece of binding along the joint.

Bind the edges all round with red, yellow or blue cloth.

The cloth is shaped to go easily under the saddle. He also uses it when the stuffing of the saddle is uneven: "this is a good remedy, and one that has been used almost universally in the cavalry".

From **Saddlery**, edited by Paul N. Hasluck, David McKay, 1904 (archive.org saddlery00hasl), chapter V, saddle cloths, pp. 49-50, Figs. 16-17; read on the scan. He gives no sizes, only the rule "the same shape as the saddle, but a little larger". He notes that kersey, a coarse, usually ribbed woollen cloth, was famous from Devon as far back as the fourteenth century. Marking round the saddle, the thread and tools are ours.