SADDLERY AND SORE BACKS. 
501 
does not fit, and should be changed; but if this is impossible, the evil 
may be remedied by the use of a blanket, folded the requisite thick¬ 
ness, and in such a manner as to relieve the parts from pressure. 
Injuries to the back proper may be caused by irritation produced by 
badly-stuffed pannels (old pattern) damaged numnahs, ill-fitting side- 
bars, careless riding, pressure from the valise kit, long and continuous 
saddle pressure, removing the saddle too soon after the man has 
dismounted, and from such accidental causes as breakage of the tree 
or leatherwork. The remedies to a certain extent suggest themselves, 
but there are several important points worthy of notice. With the 
old pattern pannel saddles we had considerable difficulty. The system 
used to be, as most of you are aware, re-stuffing the saddles when we 
could possibly manage to do it. When this could not be done other 
devices were used, such as applying an extra numnah, pricking up the 
stuffing, or chambering the saddle. The latter method is of very 
little use, because the saddle does not always stay in the place where it 
is first put, and the edge of the chamber will probably not only aggra¬ 
vate the existing sore, but may produce a new one. Injuries from 
badly-fitting side-bars occur principally from two causes. A straight- 
backed horse requires straight side-bars, and if these are unduly curved 
the pressure will be directed to one point—the centre—and the saddle 
will have a tendency to rock. If, on the other hand, straight side-bars 
are fitted to a hollow-backed horse, undue pressure will be caused by 
the front points and rear fans, and the saddle will oscillate. In neither 
case can an even bearing be obtained, and a galled back will probably 
be the result. A change of saddle is the only proper remedy, but if 
this be not possible the folded blanket may be used with advantage. 
Shifting of the saddle is nearly always in a forward direction, and may 
arise from either of the above causes, or from defective conformation, 
such as a shallow chest, low forehand, high loins, and excessively arched 
ribs. It is a difficult matter to keep the regulation saddle in its place on a 
very short-backed horse, because the rear fans project so far back upon 
the loins that the saddle is pushed forward by the action of the muscles, 
and the front points of the side-bars will interfere with the free play 
of the shoulder-blades. With the old pattern tree the remedy used to 
be to cut off the points of the side-bars, front and rear, and to screw 
on curved iron plates. This is not required with the new pattern tree, 
as I shall proceed to show you. This (exhibiting the same ) is a pattern 
which has been very kindly sent up by Major Horton, the Inspector of 
Saddlery at the Dockyard. It is the newest pattern although it has 
been in use for some time; but you will see that the front points of 
the saddle are curved and are much shorter than those of the old stuffed 
pannel saddle, and the same may be said of the rear fans. With the 
new pattern numnah pannels (<exhibiting the same) a misfit can be 
remedied to a certain extent by placing one or more thicknesses of 
felt between the pannels and the side-bars in such positions as to enable 
the saddle to take the required bearing. 
As Major Horton, the Inspector of Saddlery, is present I have no 
doubt that he will be good enough to explain the various details of 
the new saddle more fully after the lecture. 
