SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. 209 



putting pads beneath it to protect a sore place, because experience shows 

 that the remedy is frequently worse than the disease ; a chambered 

 collar will always be unsatisfactory, and a pad beneath a collar is the 

 most harmful practice with which we are acquainted. 



Pads be?ieath collar are harmful. — The pad alluded to is a small Pads 

 pillow-shaped body containing hair and covered with leather ; it is beneath 

 attached to the collar by straps. collar are 



When it is considered how necessary it is that the whole weight in ^^"^ " ' 

 draught should be evenly distributed over the shoulder, there can be no 

 difficulty in understanding what must follow by putting one or more pads 

 under the collar ; the draught comes on them entirely, and the damage 

 inflicted has to be seen to be believed. 



Horse may be worked luit/i sore shoulders if collar be fitted. — Horse 

 Shoulders which have been injured will heal, many of them during work, "^^^', ^^ 

 if the proper alterations have been effected, and if they continue to rub ^^ ^^u 

 it is proof positive that the alteration is not satisfactory. shoulders 



This point must not be misunderstood. It is not advised that a if collar 

 horse should be worked with an altered collar when the shoulders are so be fitted, 

 inflamed that the animal will not allow itself to be approached ; but 

 after the acute inflammation has subsided, it may be possible to put that 

 animal to work, when the collar has been properly adjusted, without 

 waiting for the complete healing of the wound. 



We have spoken of shoulder injuries as if the collar were always at 

 fault ; for all practical purposes it may be considered so, but there are 

 cases where injury has occurred and the collar apparently fits well. 

 Such will always happen when horses are soft and wanting in condition, 

 and experience teaches us that as the skin hardens the tendency to gall 

 is abolished. 



Alteration to be accurately made. — Never allow a collar to be sent to Alteration 

 the shop for alteration without the saddler seeing it on and marking the to be 

 alteration required. It is astonishing how saddlers and collar makers accurately 

 trust to their eye ; nothing is more fallacious. Further, they will carry "^^ ^' 

 out the most elaborate work without ever thinking of trying the collar on 

 to see how they are progressing, and whether the alterations are on the 

 right lines. No attempt should be made at finally completing the 

 alteration until the collar has been seen on ; it should be fitted in the 

 unfinished state. 



Effects of loss of fiesh in collar fitting. — When horses lose flesh as Effects ot 

 the result of work their collars become too large for them both in width loss of 

 and depth, and injuries are frequent. A^sh in 



collar 



(B 10948) O fi"'"S' 



