SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. 1 93 



with a roach back is at all times more liable to this class of injury than 

 one with a back of ordinary shape. 



It is obvious that the danger of carrying material behind the saddle 

 is enormously increased by using a saddle with a low cantle ; in fact, it 

 may at once be said that low cantle saddles, such as find their way 

 into military service under the stress of war, should never be used for 

 carrying a rear pack when the animals have lost muscle. No matter 

 what may constitute the rear pack, it should be so fitted that when the 

 man is in the saddle and leaning back the closed hand should find easy 

 admission between the pack and the spine, and on the march and on 

 service this point should be looked to every day. A single glance riding 

 behind the men will at once tell the trained eye whether everything is 

 satisfactory. 



A rear pack must not be slack in its attachment to the cantle, but 

 firm and immovable ; all buckles must be on top and in sight, for a buckle 

 resting on the spine is a real source of trouble, while the loose end of 

 a strap is productive of considerable injury if it finds its way under the 

 numnah. All buckles and free ends of straps must be in view. 



There is a time-honoured custom in the service not to remove saddles Removal 

 while the backs are hot, but to loosen the girth and let the back dry with of saddlery 

 the saddle on. Sometimes the saddle is taken off and merely the ^^^^ °^ 

 numnah left on, and this is the right method. Every endeavour should 

 be made to dry backs as soon as possible. If wet backs are exposed to 

 the air it is not uncommon for many small swellings to form, which, as 

 a rule, go down in a few hours, but occasionally become fairly permanent 

 and get rubbed. 



In some parts of the world, like South Africa, no care is taken to Atmos- 

 prevent hot and wet backs being exposed, and no harm results ; but the phenc 

 conditions of atmosphere are very different from what is found in Europe, copd'tions 

 the air being dry and evaporation rapid. In Europe we think it a good ^^cks. 

 precautionary measure not to expose the backs until the men are ready to 

 dry them. 



As horses get in hard condition the sweating under the saddle becomes 

 less until finally hardly any moisture can be seen. This is a useful guide 

 to the hard condition of troop horses. 



A sand bath for both horses and mules after being on duty is an Sand bath 

 excellent thing ; the animals roll and refresh themselves, and in this to dry 

 way, among other advantages, dry their own backs. backs. 



(b 10948) 



