32 HORSE PACKING 



CARE OF THE PACK ANIMAL. 



Sore Withers. — If the aparejo is ribbed with too 

 weak ribs it will cause sore withers; this may lead to 

 thissolow or fistula. The size of ribs given in the pre- 

 ceding pages is for the ordinary, standard Army load 

 of 250 pounds. 



Sore withers are also caused by not sufficient pad- 

 ding under the collar of the aparejo. 



Sore Loins. — The causes are the same for this as 

 for sore withers. 



Note. — It should be emphasized that if too large 

 sticks used in ribbing are too stiff, they will not easily 

 break in with the shape of the animal. They should 

 be used, only slightly heavier, when very heavy loads 

 are to be regularly carried for a trip, that is, loads of 

 300 pounds and upwards. 



But these are matters that can only be acquired by 

 actual experience. The printed page can only outline 

 standards and possible variations. 



Bunches and Sti^ellings. — A bunch is a swelling, a 

 puffing up, under the skin. It shows an uneven pres- 

 sure or bearing in the aparejo or the load. It is from 

 these small bunches that the galls and saddle sores 

 develop under continuous use and that have been re- 

 garded as a necessary incident of packing. 



A bunch almost always is the result of unevenness 

 in ribbing or padding; in other words, it is a bruise. 

 It is exactly parallel to the results caused by a wrinkle 

 in the sock of a man on a march. Slight in the begin- 

 ning yet it can break down a marching man in an 

 incredibly short while. So it is with these bruises on 

 pack animals. 



To Cure a Bunch or Saddle Swelling. — When a bunch, 

 however small, is noted after unsaddling, wet 

 the bunch with water. Now place the aparejo on the 

 animal carefully so that it rests on the animal as it has 



