The use of a V-shaped girth is a considerable gain to the troop horse, but the point of junction of the V is always a source of trouble; a metal union appears to be necessary for strength, but a metal plate, ring, or studs at this point are possible sources of trouble, especially if a blanket be so folded as not to afford sufficient protection to the side. Nor must it be forgotten that the cause of trouble is aggravated by a tight surcingle or over-girth. The action of this is to press the metal connection deeper into the side, and in some cases a tight over-girth is the sole cause of trouble.

Injury from the rear pack
Injuries from the rear pack are among some of the most severe inflicted; the part affected is the ridge of the spine where there is nothing covering the bone but skin, and in a very short time an injury may be inflicted of sufficient severity to lay the horse up for weeks. No matter what is carried behind the saddle the golden rule is that it should be concave towards the spine in order that nothing may touch it. The nature of the material carried must determine what degree of bend can be given to it to make it concave towards the spine. For instance, when one sees a picket peg laid across the rear fans and carried next to the horses back we know that a golden rule for carrying a rear pack is either unknown or forgotten.

Bearing in mind what we have said about muscle waste, it must be evident that a rear pack which is clear of the spine when the horse is full of muscle may rest on the backbone when he loses a flesh. A horse with a roach back is at all times more liable to this class of injury than one with a back of ordinary shape.

It is obvious that the danger of carrying material behind the saddle is enormously increased by using a saddle with a low cantle; in fact, it may at once be said that low cantle saddles, such as find their way into military service under the stress of war, should never be used for carrying a rear pack when the animals have lost muscle. No matter what may constitute the rear pack, it should be so fitted that when the man is in the saddle and leaning back the closed hand should find easy admission between the pack and the spine, and on the march and on service this point should be looked to every day. A single glance riding behind the men will at once tell the trained eye whether everything is satisfactory.

A rear pack must not be slack in its attachment to the cantle, but firm and immovable; all buckles must be on top and in sight, for a buckle resting on the spine is a real source of trouble, while the loose end of a strap is productive of considerable injury if it finds its way under the numnah. All buckles and free ends of straps must be in view.