GALLS — GESTA TION 



Galls arising from the chafing- of some part of the harness, 

 usually the pad, or the saddle, or girths, often cause a good 

 deal of annoyance. In some cases horses which are liable to 

 them may be successfully protected by the use of saddle or 

 pad-cloths, or a piece of sheepskin may be placed under the 

 girths. A badly-fitting collar is another constant cause of 

 galls, and in such cases relief may be obtained by either 

 cutting away some of the lining which presses on the sore, or 

 else by placing pads of felt or flannel in such positions that 

 the pressure may be removed. 



Treatment. — Fomentations of salt and water or alum and 

 water should be applied, or in obstinate cases a dressing of 

 glycerine twenty parts and carbolic acid one part may be 

 found efficacious, (See Prescriptions, Sore Backs?) 



Garron Ponies. — These are the biggest and best built 

 pure-bred ponies of Scotland ; they come from Perthshire and 

 the Central Highlands, the Duke of Atholl's stud at Blair 

 Atholl being the best known. In colour they are black, 

 brown, dun, sometimes with the black stripe down the back 

 and black points, piebald, black or brown and white, and 

 sometimes grey. They are noted for their good feet and legs, 

 well set on tail, game heads, and good shoulders. In height 

 they average 14 hands, and for sure-footedness and general 

 all-round staying power cannot be beaten. This breed is 

 fortunate in that no attempts have been made to " improve " 

 it by the introduction of stallions of other blood. 



Gaskin. — The gaskin is the part of the hind -leg above 

 the hock and below the thigh, hence it is sometimes alluded 

 to as the second thigh. (See Hind-legs, Points^ 



Gelding. — A castrated horse. (See Castration^ 



Gestation. — The period which elapses between con- 

 ception and foaling, usually eleven months. An erroneous 

 impression exists in some quarters that if the above period 

 is exceeded the foal will be a colt, and if it is less that the 

 result will be a filly. (See Brood Mare, Foaling^ 



145 K 



