HORSES WITH SORE SHOULDEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 10

HORSES WITH SORE SHOULDEERS.

SOME SIMPLE REMEDIES.

From the time farm horses are put to work until all farm work is finished thousands of work horses suffer with sere necks and shoulders (writes C. O. Lipp in the Maritime Parmer). These sores not only interfere with the general usefulness of the animals, but frequently leave a collar ball or fistulous withers, which usually demands a surgical operation, and lays 'the horse off for a* month or more. The causes of sore necks and shoulders may bo classed under two heads—namely, sores caused by pressure and those caused by friction. Sores caused by pressure result from the pressure of a load on the wrong part of the neck or shoulders. This occurs when the collar is too tight, when the draught is too high or too low, when the collar or pad has an uneven surface, or when the horse carries a heavy weight like a waggon or binder tongue on his neck. Other sores are the result of the rubbing of the collar 1 on the neck or shoulders. This may occur when the collar is too large. Then with every step there is a tendency for it to slip and slide on the neck and shoulders, and a soro is inevitable. Collars may fit fairly well, but when the horses carry a rapidly-vibrating tongue like that of a mower or binder the sores are more easily produced. Prevention. — Prevention is simple and not difficult to carry out. Tho collar must fit. The draught must be properly adjusted. The bearing: surface of collar and jmd must be kept clean. Plorscs having s'oro necks or shoulders must not be worked on mower or binder unless provision is made to remove vibrations and weight from the tongue. Tho irritating effects of dust and sweat may bo overcomo by removing tho collars at noon and sponging them and the_ horses' nocks with clean cold, water. This should also bo done every evening when tho harness is removed. Colts and idle horses must have their necks and shoulders gradually hardened, the process extending over a period of several weeks. When a horse is in pood physical condition his neck and shoulders arc fuller than when ho is thinner, consequently if a collar fits when a horse is in good condition, it is likely to bo too largo when ho has been worked several weeks. Some careful horsemen find that it pays to have collars of two sizes, using the largo collars until tho necks shrink, and then using tho small size. Other good horsemen use nads to reduce the size of the collar when the neck shrinks. Still others make a practice of allowing their teams to rest a few minutes several times each half-day, and whilo doing so slip tho collars far enough forward on the necks to allow both collars and necks to cool and tho shoulders to rest. This is an excellent practice, and is worth adopting.

The collar should fit the horse's neck. It is impossible to fit the neck 'to the collar. It should bo wide enough throughout its entiro length, so that it will not pinch the neck. Thero should bo room enough to pass your finger 'tips from tho top pad to throat between collar and tho horse's neck. It should be long enough to allow the n.nlm of the hand to bo slipned under it nt the throat.

When the rn-onor size of collar has been selected, it ehould be fitted to the neck of the borse that is to wear it. The best way

to do this is to soak the collar in clean water for a short time, and then while it is still soft and pliable put it on the horse that is to wear it. Work him wearing this wet collar for several hours, so that it will be fitted to the contour of his shoulders. Then remove the collar,_ and allow it to dry thoroughly, after which it should not be worn on any other _ horse. The simplest remedies usually yield best results, providing the points juet outlined receive proper attention. Common white lead"’ ground in linseed oil, the kind used for mixing paint, is very good. Apply a small quantity of it 'every evening. Oxide of zinc ointment is also” very satisfactory when applied every evening. A lotion composed of 6dr of lead acetate and an equal amount of zinc sulphate in oifo pint of water makes an excellent wash for sore necks and shoulders. Stable hygiene has an influence on the healing process. Clean, light, airy stables, free from dampness and the fumea of decomposing manure are much moro favourable to the healing process than stables in the opposite condition. In a word, prevent all sore necks and shoulders possible. This is bettor than a cure. Secure prompt healing of those cases that are not preventable by making conditions for healing so favourable that Nature has but one course to follow —namely, to heal promptly and completely.