SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. l8l 



would effect an enormous saving in concussion to which the spine is at 

 present exposed, and largely reduce weight. Such pannels have been 

 made and used, but there is a natural timidity to trust a horse's back to the 

 security of a rubber patch, though the provision of an air cushion is an ideal 

 conception for a pannel. 



Granulated cork has been tried for filling pannels, but anything of a Cork 

 granular nature has a tendency to work in one direction instead of pannels. 

 keeping its position, though this can to an extent be provided against. 



Sore Backs : How they are Caused, Prevented, and 

 Remedied. 



Under the term " sore backs " is included all injuries inflicted on horses 

 by the saddle, whether such injury affects the back proper or the withers ; 

 we must, however, for the purpose of description, draw a clear line 

 between these, as the causes operating in producing injuries to the 

 withers are not causes which injure the back, and vice versa. 



The first thing to learn is that the position of a sore back is not an A sore 

 accidental circumstance, but is the outcome of a definite cause. If we back has 

 appreciate the value of this axiom, and know the causes operating in ^ definite 

 producing the various injuries, we are able to recognise almost by ^^"^^• 

 glancing at a sore back the actual cause operating in its production 



(fig- 36). 



Ihe knowledge that in nearly every case of injury, the cause can be 

 clearly determined, is valuable information, for if we remove the cause., 

 the effect ceases. If we know the cause of a sore back and can remove it, 

 that sore back will not recur, and, moreover, in the majority of cases, 

 the cause being removed, the horse may perhaps be able to continue at 

 its duty (under conditions which it is the object of this section to impart), 

 and thus hardly lose a day in the ranks. 



Every sore, every injury, every abrasion on a horse's back is due 

 to a certain definite cause, which if removed produces no fiirther effect. 

 Let this be taught to non-commissioned ofiicers and men, and encourage 

 all ranks to bring at once to notice every rub, no matter how slight. 



This must be instilled into the mind of everyone that has to do with a 

 horse. The old system of punishing a man whose horse had a sore back 

 led to concealment of trouble, and, moreover, in at least ninety per cent, 

 of the cases was unjust. 



Faults i?i saddling. — At this point it may be desirable to consider the Faults in 

 question of a man's ability to give a horse a sore back. Prejudice dies saddling, 

 very hard, and there are probably still many people who speak of a man 



