SORE SHOULDERS IN HORSES.

Western Star, Issue 871, 16 August 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

SORE SHOULDERS IN HORSES.

Faem horses are most liable to have sore shoulders in early, spring, when unaccustomed to work. If humanity s does not lead to care in prevention and cure, interest will prompt it, for certainly a horse with sound shoulders will do more work than if these be swollen and lacerated. Prevention is better than cure. The first point is to secure good, wellfitting collars, those of soft leather, of equal hardness on both sides. Many collars are stuffed more solidly on one side than the other, and should be rejected. The. horse should be fitted to a collar at the shop, as two very seldom have shoulders exactly alike. I have often wondered that farmers do not have collars made specially for each horse. The cost would be amply repaid, as it is slight compared with the increased service that would be secured. I prefer a collar stuffed with hair. The leather should be kept well oiled, especially where meeting the shoulder. Pure neatsfoot oil makes the leather soft and pliable, and is a good preventive and cure for sore shoulders. Cloth collars are now made, and cloth pads to cover the entire collar face. I know they are good, and recommend them to other farmers.

Early in the spring, at least two. weeks before ploughing commences, begin bathing the shoulders of each work horse with strong salt brine. I keep in the stalls an old fruit can, and a rag tied to the end of a cob ; and it takes but a moment to throw in a handful of salt with some water, stir it up and apply the brine. It toughens and hardens the skin and cools it, allaying inflammation. I do this each evening 5 after work begins I first wash off the shoulders with clean water. I have never been troubled with sore shoulders since I have taken to carefully selecting . selecting collars, keeping them soft with oil, and bathing frequently with the salt water.

The best cure for sore shoulders is rest, and this may be secured without stopping work, by removing the pressure from the irritated spot. One method is to out a long, narrow slit in the hame groove opposite the sore, remove part of the stuffing and make a little depression by pounding the face over the sore. The slit will not injure the collar. Another method is to use pads above and below the tender spot, to keep off the pressure. After considerable experience I consider tire best pad one made by stuffing a coat sleeve with hay, about one inch thick between the collar and shoulder, but thinner where it pusses under tne hames. Hay works into lumps less than rags, hair, or wool, and is elastic enough to spring the collar from the shoulders when the draf t slackens, giving them opportunity to cool and rest. —American Agriculturist,