STABLE managp:ment. 71 



to horses, comprises a hood, pad, roller, breast piece and quarter sheet. 

 With the exception of the hood, all these articles are combined in a 

 shaped rug which fastens across the chest and has a surcingle stitched 

 on. Some rugs fasten centrally on the breast, whilst others have a flap 

 which buckles on the side, the latter being the better plan, as it prevents 

 the front being blown up when in camp. For a similar reason a well 

 fitting " fillet string" should be fastened round the quarters to prevent the 

 wind blowing the rug over the back, which not only defeats its purpose, 

 but may stampede the horse ; if not issued already fitted, this detail 

 should be added locally. 



The fit at the neck is another point which should be looked to, very The fit at 

 often the opening is much too large and as a consequence the rug the neck, 

 gradually works back over the shoulders till the top is drawn tightly 

 across the withers and may cause a sore from pressure. When surcingles 

 are stitched on a space of four inches should be left free where the web 

 passes over the backbone or shrinkage from wet may cause injury 

 by tight pressure. A well-fitting rug should embrace the neck like a 

 collar, but in rather looser fashion, cover the body down to the level of 

 the elbows and extend as far back as the dock ; the fillet string should be 

 capable of adjustment and the buckle of the surcingle sufficiently high up 

 to prevent the horse lying on it when down. 



Rugs are made of thick woollen blanketing or of jute sacking lined 

 with stout woollen collar check, and both are quite serviceable, though 

 the latter perhaps shows dirt least. 



Rollers. — If the roller is not stitched to the rug, it should have a pad Rollers, 

 on each side of the spine, sufficiently thick to prevent the webbing 

 coming down on the centre of the back when it is drawn tight. These 

 pads are frequently so badly designed and stuffed that they do not 

 prevent pressure on the backbone and a sore is the result : they should 

 be thickest near the spine and thin off to nothing at their lower 

 edges. Pieces of felt laid on each other, then skived off, and covered with 

 leather or serge, make a very serviceable pad. 



Clean i?ig clothing.— Tho. rug should be well shaken and brushed every Cleaning 

 morning, and not wetted if it can be helped ; if, however, it becomes clothing, 

 necessary to scrub it, as little water as possible should be used, and the 

 material well stretched when drying to prevent shrinkage. When rugs 

 have to be disinfected by soaking, the fluid should be used cold for the 

 same reason. 



Bandages. — Although bandages are not used for troop horses unless Bandages 

 they are in hospital, their employment is so very general in other stables 

 that a reference to the proper methods of using them is not out of place 



