CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OP ANIMALS 823 



The crest of the neck must not be pinched. The inside 

 of the top of the collar should correspond to the thick 

 crest of the cart horse ; some collars meet too closely at 

 this part to admit a thick crest without pinching. The 

 hand should be able to find admission between the crest of 

 the neck and the collar. 



The depth of the collar is important ; it must be deep 

 enough to prevent pressure on the vessels at the root of 

 the neck and trachea, it must also be deep enough to 

 permit the slight rise in the collar which occurs when the 

 horse puts his weight into it. But a collar which is too 

 deep — viz., one which admits of the whole arm being 

 introduced — is a very serious evil. If the collar will admit 

 the hand and wrist being inserted between the throat of 

 the collar and the front of the neck, it is sufficient for all 

 purposes. 



The ' after-wale ' of a collar is the piece of thick leather 

 which covers the outside of the body. In fitting a collar, 

 especially a new one, particular attention must be paid to 

 the position of the edge of the after-wale. Sometimes it 

 touches the skin when the horse places his weight into the 

 collar, and is then capable of producing considerable 

 injury. 



The projecting rim which runs around the front part of 

 the collar is known as the ' fore- wale,' and in the space 

 between the fore- and after-wale the hames are placed. 

 The hames must take the shape of the collar: a collar 

 that fits perfectly without hames may prove too tight 

 when the hames are put on. In such a case they are too 

 straight. In fitting the hames attention should be paid 

 to the position of the trace attachment ; it should neither 

 be too high nor two low. The hames considerably increase 

 the rigidity of a collar. The collar should be as light 

 as consistent with the nature of the work ; all unnecessary 

 ornamentation and heavy housings should be abolished 

 in order to reduce weight. 



The collar should lie on the neck without pinching, and 

 especially attention should be paid to this in pole draught. 



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