SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. 



207 



with great difficulty ; not uncommonly the skin dies and a piece comes 

 away as in a sore back. It is the only approach to a " sitfast " that 

 is met with in collar injuries, and for the reason previously specified, 

 viz., pressure. This injury is more common in pole than in shaft 

 draught, and is caused by the strain inflicted on the neck in pulling up 

 or in going down hill owing to the pull of the pole chains, aggravated 

 by a loose housing strap. The injury may occur on perfectly level roads. 



Fig. 40. 



and is then often due to carelessness on the part of the driver in 

 shortening the pole chains too much, and so throwing the weight of the 

 pole on the horses' necks. The pole should not rest on the neck, but be 

 perfectly free to move up and down, and the chain, though taut, should 

 not lift the pole an inch."^ A tight wither strap, by drawing back the 

 collar, may also cause an injury to the neck. 



If collars are stuffed as in fig. 38, this injury may be prevented, or a 

 metal pad may be worn between the neck and the collar. These so-called 



The pole here referred to is that of the general service wagon. 



