Sore Shoulders.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 99, 18 September 1908, Page 3

Sore Shoulders.

This is an abrasion of the skin covering that part of the shoulders in contact with the collar. Young horses, when first used in harness, and horses with delicate skins are especially subject to sore shoulders. Neglect of grooming and failure to remove the sweat and scurf from the skin after work may predispose to its occurrence ; but the condition is usually brought about by the use of ill fitting or badly stuffed collars. In the latter case the necessity for the intervention of the saddler is obvious. The regular use of astringent applications calculated to harden the sikn is advantageous in young animals with tender skins. One of the most effective of such applications is a decoction of wattle bark made by boiling liali a pound of wattle bark in a gallon of water. Tan liquor and brine are also useful applications which can usuially be easily procured. An effective lotion for the purpose can be made by dissolving two brams each of alum and sulphuric acid in a quart of water. It the parts which are liable to chafe be freely sponged over with one of these solutions two or three times a week, they will soon become SO' hardened or toughened as to give little-further trouble. Treatment. —Recovery is aided by throwirigthe horse out of work for a time. If in mild cases this is inconvenient, the part of the collar coming in contact with the abrasion should be "clambered," or it should be so padded as to prevent contact with the abraded surface. As a healing application nothing is better than the white lotion which should be sopped on many times a day. If the abraded surface is very moist or running, powdered zinc oxide or calamine should be dusted on. The keeping of the parts thoroughly clean throughout ail stages of treatment is, of course, essential.