Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-09-15
Ito se's Sore Shoulders and Necks

Sore shoulders are, as Il rule. due
to an improper lit in collar and har-
ness. Occasionally uneven surfaces
or hard lumpy areas in the filling
may be the cause, or improper care
of the morse in early spring before
the skin and underlying tissues have
become hardened to the collar pres
sure. Diseased conditions of the
foot or limb may cause sore should
ers from an abnormal gait A
horses collar should be fitted with
greater care than a pair Of patent
feathers on an aggregation Of bun
ions, cOrns AMI ingrown toe nails.
The collar should be well made, with
fair amount of springlness on pres
sure, smooth, even surface and adap-
ted to the use required; as for in
stance. heavy collar for heavy
draught work, while a lighter one
can be used for driving horses. Let
it be sufficiently known that the hand
may be easily passed beneath the
under surface of the neck, and wide
enough that the fingers can just be
passed between the front border
and the side OF the neck. This rule
varies somewhat, of course in the va
rious types of horses. as some thick
necked horses expand the neck when
drawing a load. These will require Il
slightly wider collar. Let the collar
fit snugly over the entire bearing
surface.
Having fitted the collar, next comes
the lifting of the names to the collar
and the proper adjustment OF the
height of the attachment of the tug.
\ good rule to follow is to have it
come about One-third of the height
from below. This may need to he
varied somewhat, as we consider the
angle at which the hook passes from
the hame, and whether the horse has
free or check rein. In well made
names, this hook passes out ut a right
angle and is easily adjusted. Ii plac-
ed too low, the point Of the shoulder
shows ahrasiOns and soreness. Ii too
high, the soreness will be found inst
in front Of the upper part Of the
shoulder blade.
When sores occur, seek the cause,
correct it, then aid nature in effect
ing recovery. Having removed the
sweat and dirt, dust with any good
antiseptic powder, or easier still.
dampen well after washing with Il
solution Of bichloride Of mercury ana
fannie acid. Dissolve two bichloride
tablets and tablespoonful OF fannie
acid i'll Il quart of soft water for this
purpose. 1t will keep for weeks,
costs but little and is easily applied.
busting powders made up Of boric
and fannie acid are equally effective,
or zinc oxide may be used. Dry sui
plur and air slaked lime is u tavorite
mixture with some, andI is quite
good.
Prevention is worth the proverbial
amount Of cure, and consists in care
fully-ltted collars. The use Of pads
is largely II matter of choice and we
are free to confess that, in twenty
five years Of experience III handling
work horses, we consider the argu-
We have made it Il rule to use pads
only with the smaller and lighter col
lars when used in heavy work.
Called shoulders frequently result
from the use of sweat-soaked pad
or one wet in Il heavy rain. Careful
washing of the shoulders with some
astrigent solution during the first
few days OF early spring work tough
ems the skin, lessons the action of the
sweat glands in that region. and gives
many IA faithful horse relief from the
daily torture of Il sore shoulder.
Sore necks in horses are due usual
~ to one Of two causes: Il short col
lar. or to too great weight coupled
with the side motion. AS noted in il
twO-wheeled vehicle. \ horse can
carry quite heavy weight on the
neck provided there is no Jerking
sidewise. Treatment is the same us
for sore shoulders: Remove the
cause. then wash we'll and treat with
an antiseptic and astringent wash of
powder.
\ pretty girl tries to give people
the impression that she is tired OF be-