Saddle and Collar Galls. 585 



the puncture is a deep one, the " navicular joint " may become involved, excessive lameness 

 is at once evinced, and although the utmost skill may be used, in many instances a fatal 

 termination to the future usefulness of the animal follows. 



Overreach is brought about by an extravagant hind action on the part of the animal. 

 The wound is inflicted by the inner and back part of the toe of the hind-shoe striking upon 

 the fleshy heel of the fore foot. The accident may, in many horses, be prevented by rounding 

 this particular part of the hind-shoe. After thoroughly fomenting and cleansing the injured 

 limb, any broken horn should be removed, a pledget of cotton-wool should be laid over the 

 wound, and a bandage so adjusted as to hold in their proper place the lips of torn 

 integument. The bandage and dressing should be repeated daily, so that all chance of collection 

 of discharge may be prevented. 



Wounds the result of treading upon the coronet more commonly occur to draught horses 



and to their hind feet. The treatment advisable in the majority of such cases is similar to 



that suggested in overreach ; it is, however, not unfrequently necessary to carefully remove 



the horn immediately below the injury, or the pus running from the wound will collect, and 



the formation of a quittor will be the result. When the horse gives evidences of suffering 



considerable pain as the result of the injury, he may be relieved b)' repeated fomentations and 



warm poultices, and also by administering drink of spirits-and-w ater or ale, combined with about 



an ounce of laudanum. 



SADDLE-GALLS. 



A neglected saddle-gall may render a horse unfit for use for months. Prevention is 

 better than cure, therefore saddles should be carefully dried and constantly examined. Some 

 horses have such high withers and such tender skins that it is almost impossible to avoid 

 galling them unless a saddle-cloth is used. Some people use a sheepskin, which is very ugly. 

 [I prefer a leather pannel cut to fit the saddle, and fastened to the flaps with a loop. — S. S.] 



Ladies' horses are very subject to saddle-galls, because their saddles do not fit, and be- 

 cause ladies often ride too long and on one side. A leather pannel is therefore a useful addition 

 to a side-saddle. 



[An additional reason for putting every riding horse, except a parade charger style of animal, 

 into double harness is that it affords the very best kind of exercise when either backs or legs 

 are to be saved. — S. S.] 



Collar-galls are less serious than saddle-galls, but if neglected, form a permanent and 

 damaging blemish. Where a horse is very tender on the shoulders several expedients are 

 adopted — collars lined with sheepskin, the wool outside, air-filled collars, and breastplates. A 

 very light American carriage may be driven with no collar but a hunting breastplate. 



[In very hot weather on long journeys I have found it a good plan to sponge the horses 

 thoroughly with cold water just before starting. A good coachman is always particular that 

 collars fit. It is well to have a spare straw collar painted black, if living far from a saddler. 

 The collar that fits a fat horse will gall him as he loses flesh and gains muscle in travelling. 

 — S. S.] 



In the treatment of galls the first essential is to remove the cause of the irritation. So 

 soon as the tender place is noticed, the stuffing and fitting of the saddle, collar, or other 

 article of equipment should be looked at, and, if necessary, altered ; in some instances it is 

 desirable to make hollow the portion opposite to the affected part. In addition, it is advisable 

 to throw the horse out of work for a day or two. 



Where the skin is not broken, but a swelling raised, well sponge the part with cold 

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