56 



tinued poulticing does more harm than 

 good). 



There is no more serious case of sore back 

 than that which is caused by the gullet 

 plate or back arch of the saddle pressing on 

 the backbone. Injury done to the skin is 

 bad enough, but when it is done to the back- 

 bone, which, it should be remembered, is 

 just under the skin, it is ten times more 

 serious. 



When the horse is mounted, the saddle, 

 from the gullet plate to the back arch in- 

 clusive, should be raised so as to admit the 

 fingers between it and the backbone. With 

 this exception, the saddle should fit close to 

 the back, and should be placed so far back 

 as not to interfere with or press upon the 

 play of the shoulder blades. Having this in 

 view, with some horses it is necessary to 

 shorten the front of the sideboard. With 

 others, it may be necessary to straighten 

 out the points of the iron front arch and 

 lower the sideboards : this is most often the 

 case with narrow-withered horses. 



If the horses have soft back& and there is 

 little or no opportunity to fit the saddles 

 prior to going on a long march, which may 



