Care and Management of Horses 101 
strap or the check-rein is too short and the crupper is drawn too 
tight against the tail, it is likely to cause soreness; since this is a 
very tender part, it may lessen the reliability of the horse. A 
horse with a sore tail is hard to manage. At any time he may get 
his tail over the line, become excited through fear that the abraded 
part will be injured, clamp his tail down on the line, and be difficult 
to control. 
173. Fly-nets. — The use of fly-nets often brings much comfort 
to working animals. Such horses should be provided with throat- 
latch cloths when the bot-flies are present, as these pests are very 
annoying, and the animals in fighting them will often become 
excited, with a consequent lessening of their usefulness. Whether 
to use fly-nets or fly-blankets may depend on conditions. The 
use of the fly-blanket is not advised by many persons, but there 
are conditions in which it proves very desirable, particularly on 
horses whose color is such as to fade on being exposed to the direct 
rays of the sun. The fly-blanket, while very efficient in retaining 
the color and keeping out the flies, is not so presentable and is 
much warmer than the open net. Leather fly-nets are the most 
presentable and the most desired by horsemen. But fly-nets 
and fly-blankets are rather annoying to the teamster and are more 
or less expensive, for which reasons they are often discarded en- 
tirely. 
174. Caring for harness. — The proper care of the harness 
should receive much consideration, as care will increase the length 
of its usefulness and lessen the liability of its injuring the animal. 
It is very important that the bearing parts be kept scrupulously 
clean at all times. This applies particularly to the parts in con- 
stant contact with the animal, as the collar, saddle, and crupper. 
It is not possible to prevent sore shoulders, sore back, and sore 
tail if these parts are permitted to become dirty, which they will, 
because of the sweat and dandruff. They must be carefully 
watched and frequently cleaned. 
