SADDLERY AND SORE BACKS. 
499 
pressure in those instances where muscular wasting occurred from loss 
of condition.” 
With these facts before us we will now proceed to the general con¬ 
sideration of saddlery and harness galls. The principal causes of sore 
backs are:—(1) The faulty position of the saddle; (2) the defective 
condition of the saddlery; (3) the accidental presence of foreign mat¬ 
ters under the numnah; (4) careless saddling; (5) careless riding; 
(6) the weight and distribution of the accoutrements. 
As you are aware, the question of military saddles has occupied the 
attention of the authorities for many years, and during this period several 
patterns have been devised, and subjected to trial. Whether the acme 
of perfection has been, or is about to be arrived at, or whether the latest 
pattern might be improved upon, are points scarcely within the scope 
of this lecture. We have merely to deal with the saddle as it is, and 
to inquire into the conditions which render it a source of injury to 
horses* backs, and to suggest the adoption of such preventive measures 
as are best calculated to meet each particular case. There can, however, 
be no doubt that the abolition of stuffed pannels and the introduction 
of the present pattern saddle are very important steps in the right 
direction; but I certainly am of opinion that the small thin blanket is 
not sufficient to meet the requirements of active service, even with the 
additional protection of the numnah. If the numnah is considered to 
be indispensable as a means of affording a smoother surface to the 
horse’s back, and to prevent the possible slipping or wrinkling of the 
blanket (which I doubt) there can be no reason to object to it; but if 
it is retained I should very much like to see its thickness reduced, and 
the size and weight of the blanket increased. It must be remembered 
that a saddle which fits a horse in barrack-yard condition ” soon ceases 
to do so on active service in the field, for the simple reason that hard 
work, exposure, short rations, etc., cause loss of flesh, and this muscle 
wasting materially alters the conformation of the back; consequently 
the saddle becomes a misfit, and a sore back is the probable result. 
Whether the new pattern arrangement will be found sufficient to meet 
such a case I do not know, as it has not yet, I believe, been tried under 
the conditions experienced on service, but I do know that a good stout 
blanket, properly folded, will not only protect the parts liable to injury 
from pressure, but will frequently enable us to keep a horse at duty in 
the ranks which would otherwise be on the sick list. Writing on this 
subject as far back as 1814, General George Hanger says :—“ In the 
British Legion Cavalry in America we had no sore backs, for a blanket 
six or eight times doubled was always laid on the horse’s back under 
the saddle.” The following objections to the use of the blanket have 
been advanced :—(1) The trouble and difficulty in folding it in the 
dark; (2) its tendency to slip from under the saddle ; (3) careless and 
uneven folding, causing sore backs ; (4) the extra weight; (5) its liability 
to become saturated with wet, and covered with mud. Experience has 
proved that the first three objections are absolutely untenable. If a 
blanket is properly folded it will retain its place under the saddle, and 
soldiers can be taught in a few lessons to do this with ease, rapidity, 
and without wrinkling it, even in the dark. I consider that the slightly 
