334 Harnessing the Colt 



ing from sweenied shoulder, the Irish and the kanga- 

 roo leather-faced for the horse with tender shoulders, 

 and the common leather for ordinary work. 



The fitting and adjusting of the leather collar 

 should receive careful attention. In the manufacture 

 of collars the leather is soaked until it is limp as a 

 rag and then fitted over a metal form representing 

 the shape of the horse's neck. When dry, these 

 collars are so firm and stiff that usually it is impossible 

 to buckle the harness tight enough to bring it to the 

 shape of the animal's neck, and the shoulders are 

 therefore adjusted to the collar rather than the 

 collar to the shoulders, with sore shoulders as the 

 result. The neck and shoulders of no two horses are 

 alike. To avoid this soreness it is essential that the 

 stiff collar be adjusted to the shoulders of the horse 

 for which it is intended. To do this, take the poorly 

 fitting collar, new or old, wrap it round and round 

 again with a thoroughly wet cloth or sacking ; or 

 place the unwrapped collar in three inches of water 

 and let it remain overnight. In the morning put 

 the collar on the horse, and with hame straps draw 

 it snugly to the sides of the neck ; be sure that the 

 hame straps are properly adjusted, then work the 

 horse moderately through the day. After working 

 in this way, the collar will adjust itself to every 

 inequality of the shoulder and the horse will seldom 

 be troubled with soreness. 



Since the shoulders of no two horses are alike, each 



