SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. 211 



have to be thrown out of work. It may be spoken of as the " false 

 collar" process. 



The alterations which we have next to speak about are permanent 

 ones, such as arise in the fitting of collars for the first time. 



Plugging collars. — The body of a collar is filled with straw — Plugging 

 preferably rye straw. This is introduced into the leather receptacle by collars, 

 means of a piece of iron known as a collar-fork or collar-iron ; piece by piece 

 the straw is wetted and forced into the body of the collar, until the 

 required amount has been inserted. This process is termed "plugging," 

 and we have nothing more to say about it than that it is to be reserved 

 for collars on first being fitted, and subsequently in course of months, 

 should the body of the collar wear thin. It is a permanent process and 

 should never be adopted when horses are in hard work and losing 

 condition, as it entails too great a call on the saddler's time, is not so 

 satisfactory as the numnah strip, and the whole of the extra stuffing has 

 to be removed when the horse regains flesh. In fitting a new collar 

 the place should always be marked where the extra stuffing is to be 

 placed, and before the collar is finished off it should be again tried on 

 the horse to see that it is perfectly satisfactory. We must bear in mind 

 that a collar can only hold a certain amount of straw, and that when 

 considerable additions have to be made to the stuffing, the part must be 

 re-lined to admit ot it. 



In shortening a collar, a certain amount on either side where it opens 

 is cut off. Collars should never be shortened for horses out of 

 condition ; it is not only a waste of labour, but waste of material^ 

 Collars can only be re-lengthened after shortening at the cost of much 

 time and trouble. 



Where the strain conies on collars. — The greatest wear and tear on a Where 

 collar is in the throat, which not uncommonly breaks, and the collar the strain- 

 when opened and tested will twist in almost any direction. Saddlers ^on^es on 

 look upon this breaking at the throat as a very serious matter, but if the ^°'^^'"s- 

 leather work is sound the part can be repaired. A collar gone in the 

 throat is generally an indication of age, and, therefore, possesses other 

 sources of weakness, but it may also occur from bad usage. 



Breast Collars. 



The simplest form of collar which can be worn is that which passes 

 around the shoulders, and is known as a breast collar or breast harness. 

 The term breast is not correct, as the shoulders, and not the breast, 

 (B 10948) O 2 



