Injuries in connection with the rear arch and the portion of blanket and numnah which it covers are not very common. From the rear arch itself no injury is inflicted, but the numnah may cause very considerable inflammation if allowed to come down on the back and get tightly stretched over the spine. Even without getting tightly stretched it may cause considerable trouble due to the stitches which hold the leather patch and strap in position. The remedy to apply in the above case is very obvious.

Injuries due to not strapping the rear pack high enough is a fault which is quite unpardonable. It can be seen at a glance whether the spine is free from pressure, and if not, this should be brought under ‘careless saddling’, and made the subject of punishment. In those cases where the pack comes down as the result of loss of condition, no further strapping up is possible. Such cases should be dealt with by placing more folds of blanket under the side bar or by putting on strips of numnah or numnah panels.

The loose end of a baggage strap will do nearly as much harm as the kit resting on the spine.

If saddles be used for military purposes without a cantle, or with a very low one, a rear pack can only be carried so long as the horses are in good condition; after that the it must be cast aside, for no pack can be carried behind with a low cantle and impoverished condition.

Injury from burrs
Injuries from the burrs or fans are met by folding the blanket shorter, and putting more folds under the side bar. The most careful examination must subsequently be made with the man in the saddle, to ascertain that these parts are free from pressure. (Figure 36).