190 ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



loins with more force than is sufficient to shave the hair off, the next 

 stage is a crop of pimples, heat and swelling, and the loins become 

 extremely tender. 

 Remedy. The remedy for the above-described state of affairs is very simple, the 



principle being that the fans are to be kept off the loins, either by extra 

 folds in the blanket, or a numnah panel. The thickness of either of these 

 must be such that the fans are raised off the loins to such a height that 

 the hand may find ready admission beneath them when the man is in 

 the saddle and leaning back. 



This is also a case where the blanket should be folded shorter. 



So far, the injuries described have been mainly due to the saddle 

 itself, but there are others caused by the appendages of the saddle, viz., 

 the girth, rifle bucket, shoe case, and rear pack. 

 Girth- Girth-galls. — Girth-galls have been referred to (p. 176), in dealing 



galls. ys\\h the influence of make and shape in the production of saddle injuries. 



As there noticed, the horse with the shallow up-running brisket, especially 

 if associated with bulging curved ribs, is sure to girth-gall ; his saddle 

 works forward, as there is nothing to keep it in its place, and apart 

 from other inconveniences, the elbow gets galled from the friction of the 

 edge of the girth. 



Horses will also gall that are in soft condition : it is one of the first 

 troubles affecting a remount on beginning its military training, but 

 ceases as soon as he improves in condition. This should be borne in 

 mind, and girths not structurally altered under the impression that these 

 are to blame ; all that is necessary is to put a piece of sheepskin 

 around the girth until improvement in condition sets in. 



Many horses learn the trick of keeping their chests distended with 

 air when they are being girthed up, or, as it is commonly expressed, 

 "blowing themselves out." 



The object with which this is done is to avoid being tightly girthed 

 up ; such should always have their girths tightened after the man 

 mounts, and all, as a rule, require the girths tightening after they have 

 been out a little time. 



Especially is this the case on the line of march, for under these 

 circumstances the horses are carrying a greater' weight, and it is of 

 the utmost importance it should rock as little as possilDle. A loose 

 girth for a soldier's horse is on this account a great mistake. 



We must always remember that a saddle is never girthed to a back as 

 tightly as it seems ; when a man's weight is in the saddle the girths at 

 once i3ecome slacker. 



The action of string, hide and canvas girths has been discussed (p. 176). 



