diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index a87a86678d..1eced6d874 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@ make quest leader and nemesis be unlikely to be affected by traps
 use a more precise jumping path for far, non-straight line destinations
 increase damage bonus applies when kicking while polymorphed into a monster
 	form which has a kicking attack, just like for other kicks
+if magically removing steed's saddle is fatal, don't leave it saddled in bones
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 2f595fb994..af63b95039 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -2128,6 +2128,7 @@ E void FDECL(remove_worn_item, (struct obj *,BOOLEAN_P));
 E int FDECL(steal, (struct monst *, char *));
 E int FDECL(mpickobj, (struct monst *,struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(stealamulet, (struct monst *));
+E void FDECL(mdrop_obj, (struct monst *,struct obj *,BOOLEAN_P));
 E void FDECL(mdrop_special_objs, (struct monst *));
 E void FDECL(relobj, (struct monst *,int,BOOLEAN_P));
 #ifdef GOLDOBJ
diff --git a/src/steal.c b/src/steal.c
index 3d9c298c1f..693b5249da 100644
--- a/src/steal.c
+++ b/src/steal.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)steal.c	3.5	2006/06/25	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)steal.c	3.5	2007/04/16	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 STATIC_PTR int NDECL(stealarm);
 
 STATIC_DCL const char *FDECL(equipname, (struct obj *));
-STATIC_DCL void FDECL(mdrop_obj, (struct monst *,struct obj *,BOOLEAN_P));
 
 STATIC_OVL const char *
 equipname(otmp)
@@ -554,19 +553,20 @@ struct monst *mtmp;
 }
 
 /* drop one object taken from a (possibly dead) monster's inventory */
-STATIC_OVL void
+void
 mdrop_obj(mon, obj, verbosely)
 struct monst *mon;
 struct obj *obj;
 boolean verbosely;
 {
     int omx = mon->mx, omy = mon->my;
+    boolean update_mon = FALSE;
 
     if (obj->owornmask) {
 	/* perform worn item handling if the monster is still alive */
 	if (mon->mhp > 0) {
 	    mon->misc_worn_check &= ~obj->owornmask;
-	    update_mon_intrinsics(mon, obj, FALSE, TRUE);
+	    update_mon = TRUE;
 #ifdef STEED
 	/* don't charge for an owned saddle on dead steed */
 	} else if (mon->mtame && (obj->owornmask & W_SADDLE) && 
@@ -585,6 +585,9 @@ boolean verbosely;
 	place_object(obj, omx, omy);
 	stackobj(obj);
     }
+    /* do this last, after placing obj on floor; removing steed's saddle
+       throws rider, possibly inflicting fatal damage and producing bones */
+    if (update_mon) update_mon_intrinsics(mon, obj, FALSE, TRUE);
 }
 
 /* some monsters bypass the normal rules for moving between levels or
diff --git a/src/zap.c b/src/zap.c
index 2f75f28591..eeee7713ee 100644
--- a/src/zap.c
+++ b/src/zap.c
@@ -299,14 +299,21 @@ struct obj *otmp;
 			break;
 #ifdef STEED
 		} else if ((obj = which_armor(mtmp, W_SADDLE)) != 0) {
-			mtmp->misc_worn_check &= ~obj->owornmask;
-			update_mon_intrinsics(mtmp, obj, FALSE, FALSE);
-			obj->owornmask = 0L;
+			char buf[BUFSZ];
+
+			Sprintf(buf, "%s %s", s_suffix(Monnam(mtmp)),
+				distant_name(obj, xname));
+			if (cansee(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my)) {
+			    if (!canspotmon(mtmp))
+				Strcpy(buf, An(distant_name(obj, xname)));
+			    pline("%s falls to the %s.",
+				  buf, surface(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my));
+			} else if (canspotmon(mtmp)) {
+			    pline("%s falls off.", buf);
+			}
 			obj_extract_self(obj);
-			place_object(obj, mtmp->mx, mtmp->my);
-			/* call stackobj() if we ever drop anything that can merge */
-			newsym(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my);
-#endif
+			mdrop_obj(mtmp, obj, FALSE);
+#endif /* STEED */
 		}
 		break;
 	case SPE_HEALING: