146 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



collar to the shoulders, with sore shoulders as the result. To 

 avoid this soreness, it is necessary that the stiff collar be adjusted 

 to the shoulders of the horse for which it is intended. To do this, 

 take the poorly fitting collar, new or old, place it in three inches 

 of water and let it remain over night. In the morning put the 

 collar on the horse, and with hame-straps draw it snugly to the 

 sides of the neck ; be sure that the hame-straps are properly 

 adjusted, then work the horse moderately through the day. 

 After soaking in this way the collar will adjust itself to every 

 inequality of the shoulder, and the horse will seldom be troubled 

 with soreness. 



Fig. 59. — Types of Collars: (1) common leather; (2) half sweeny; (3) steel; 

 (4) pneumatic ; (5) humane. 



Every horse should have his own collar. It should fit close 

 to the neck along its entire width and should never be tight in 

 some places and loose in others. The hame-straps should be 

 properly adjusted at top and bottom to suit the shape of the 

 horse's neck. Be sure at all times that the lower hame-strap is 

 buckled as tightly as the thickness of the neck will permit. Oc- 

 casionally the careless driver fails to buckle the hames tightly, 

 and when the horse is backed, the hames slip off the collar. This 

 may not be noticed at the time, and the animal be compelled to. 

 pull the load with the hames resting on the shoulders. 



Adjusting the hame-tug. — The adjustment of the hame-tug is 

 also an important matter and should receive the closest attention. 

 If the draft is too low, the action of the shoulder while walking 



