MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS 191 



owners generally, because it is human nature to take 

 more trouble when a reward is probable. 



Some horses (usually those built that way) have a 

 provoking knack of getting girth-galled. The con- 

 formation which is prone to this, is that in which the 

 last few inches of a horse's chest (or brisket), instead 

 of inclining downwards as it begins to go between 

 his fore-legs, runs straight, or inclines slightly up- 

 wards. With either of the latter there is nothino; to 

 keep the girths in their proper place, i. e. clear of the 

 skin behind the elbow. This part of the skin moves 

 with each motion of the leg, and if the girth is on 

 it, is very liable to chafe, especially if the horse is 

 at all soft. 



A girth-gall is annoying because there is the 

 horse, well and fit to work, and indeed would be all 

 the better for work, and yet we cannot put an 

 ordinary saddle on him. What are we to do } 

 Either ride him bare-backed, which, by the way, is 

 good practice, or put a military saddle on and strap 

 the girth back in the way described on p. 45 of 

 Veterinary-Major Smith's excellent little work 

 Saddles a^id Sore Backs} 



This plan is very simple, and consists in placing 

 a surcingle, or over-girth, under the seat of the saddle, 

 towards the rear arch (or across the rear fans), and 

 round the horse's belly, and then fastening the girth 

 back towards this, and clear of the gall, with a shoe 

 case or other small strap. 



^ This is a book that all officers should have ; the price is 

 only IS. 



