258 THE HORSE 



and drawn as tightly as possible, the object being to exert 

 much pressure equally all round. An improvement upon 

 this has been brought out by the Sandown Company, whose 

 Fleecy bandages supply a thick material, which can be used 

 either wet or dry, and adapts itself easily to the contour 

 of the limbs. These bandages retain their fleeciness for a 

 considerable time, and have the advantage of being always 

 ready when wanted. 



Saddlery. 



Saddles should be carefully fitted to every horse, or a sore 

 back is the inevitable result. In a small stable, where 

 economy has to be very much considered, a good-sized 

 saddle, with plenty of width in the tree, can be made to 

 fit all horses with normal backs, with the help of numnahs, 

 and knitted pads ; but numbers of horses have some special 

 peculiarity which cannot be thus treated, and then a saddle 

 should be set apart for a particular animal, and especially 

 stuffed to suit his formation. It is false economy to have 

 the animal perpetually laid up with a sore back, and unable 

 to do its work in consequence. Especial attention should 

 be paid to see that the saddle does not press on the withers 

 when the rider is in the saddle, for a heavy man may 

 cause a saddle to sink sufficiently to bring it down upon 

 the withers, although there appeared plenty of room 

 before mounting ; and if a sore place should be formed 

 it is very difficult to cure, as there is almost no flesh in 

 that region and little power of healing. When the rider 

 is mounted there should be sufficient room to insert at 

 least two fingers, one over the other, under the pommel, 

 to be on the safe side, and more space is very desirable. 

 If the tree is too narrow it will pinch the withers, and 

 this also will produce a painful state, which, if continued, 

 may bring on an abscess and cause much trouble ; nor is 

 it safe to have too much width in the saddle, for then it 

 will roll about, and mischief will ensue. In this latter 

 case, however, a remedy is easily found, for a numnah, 

 or one or two pads, can be placed over the withers to make 

 the saddle fit sufficiently close. Ladies' saddles require 



