CHAFFING
,—so called, is a loss of hair, and laceration of the skin, by the pad of the saddle having got too hard in the stuffing from constant use, and for want of timely circumspection. It is also frequently occasioned by the extreme heat and friction, in continuing to travel very long stages in the hotter months, without more frequent relief or rest to the horse. This is a very common fault, or act of indiscretion, with the mechanical part of the community; who possessing rather too much of the spirit of trade, anxiously endeavour (in the extent of their sagacity) to do much more, in less time, than nature ever intended, by humanely travelling a horse two stages instead of one, thereby saving most arithmetically one half the expence, upon the city principle of Old Philpot, that "a penny saved, is a penny got."
There cannot be a more prudent precaution in either sportsman or traveller, than an occasional inspection of the stuffing of the saddle, which invariably gets hard with constant use: it should sometimes be beat and softened with a stick, afterwards lightly raised in every part with the point of a packing needle, and made smooth and free from lumps upon the surface, by which means every chance of injury will be avoided. Nothing can be productive of more anxiety than a sore back of the horse, either to the traveller on his journey, or a sportsman in the field; or any thing more mortifying, than to recollect such injury originated in the neglect of the master, and not in a fault of the horse. The backs of some well-bred and thin-skinned horses, particularly young ones, are subject to chaffing and warbles upon very slight occasions; to counteract which, nothing can be better, more simple, or more easily obtained, than two or three table-spoonsful of the best white wine vinegar, bathed cold upon the part, and that so soon as the saddle is taken off, and while the pores are open.