100 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



The construction of cross saddles and side saddles, which is a 

 subject closely connected with sore backs, is described, respectively, 

 in " Riding and Hunting," and " The Horsewoman '' (3rd Edition). 



VARIETIES. — The chief varieties of these injuries are those of 

 the withers ; of that portion of the back \Yhich is just behind the 

 cantle ; of the oflP side of the back underneath the cantle ; of the 

 parts against which the points of the tree rest ; of the general bear- 

 ing surface of the saddle ; and of the " girth place," which is the 

 bottom part of the chest over which the girths pass. Saddle and 

 girth galls may be divided into bruises of the backbone and the 

 structures near it, and into ordinary bruises, cuts, or irritated 

 patches of skin, or of skin and muscle. Bruises of the backbone 

 and of its adjoining parts are always serious ; as they are likely 

 to develop into more or less troublesome abscesses. Although, 

 under all ordinary circumstances, they are due to bad management, 

 they may be the unavoidable results of legitimate work, as during 

 military field service. In some cases of inflamed withers, the 

 injury results in a synovial enlargement, capped withers, alluded 

 to on page 330. 



BEARING SURFACE OF THE SADDLE.— The only parts of a 

 horse's body fit to bear the weight of a saddle containing a rider, 

 are the muscles which, on each side, cover the upper and more or 

 less horizontal portion of the ribs between the loins and the upper 

 end of the shoulder blade. These muscles rest on the upper, 

 portion of the ribs, which are connected underneath to the breast 

 bone. As the vertebrae of the loins are unprovided with ribs, or 

 with other firm support for these muscles, weight should not bo 

 placed by the saddle on the loins. As the spines of the vertebrae 

 (backbone) are incapable of supporting even a moderate amount 

 of pressure without becoming inflamed, no part of the saddle or 

 roller should bear on them. If the saddle be put so far forward 

 as to press on the upper end of the shoulder blade, its presence 

 in that position will more or less hamper the movements of the 

 animal during the forward and backward play of that bone at 

 each stride ; even if it does not produce a wound or bruise. 



WAYS IN WHICH THESE INJURIES OCCUR.— When the 

 skin is unaccustomed to pressure, even moderate work will 

 naturally be particularly liable to cause bruises or cuts. Skin 

 well inured to contact with saddle gear may easily become 

 inflamed by long-continued pressure interfering with the local 

 circulation, such as might occur with a very tightly girthed-u]i 

 saddle during a long day's hunting. This undesirable result may 



