APAREJO, a'par-l'hO. This pack-saddle, most generally used in military service, con sists of a strong leather sack, about two feet wide and from 55 to 60 inches long, according to the girth of the animal. A seam running from the front to the rear of the aparejo di vides it into two equal parts, each of which is composed of a double layer of hide, with suf ficient space between to introduce a suitable stuffing of hay, grass, moss, fibre, etc. These side-flaps, when fastened together at the top, form a ridge within which the backbone of the animal rests free from friction or pressure. On the inside of each flap is left a circular hole through which the stuffing material can at any time be reached. The careful packer should keep the stuffing evenly distributed, or so as to vary with the conformation of the back of the particular animal, as portions of it are constantly shifting and working up into lumps, in consequence of the travel. The drawings show the interior and exterior of the aparejo. To set up the aparejo, or to give it evenness and stiffness, small ash, rose or wil low sprouts from one-half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter and as long as possiLle without springing (any tough and elastic wood will answer), are placed inside of it and at equal distances apart — about two inches. On the inside of these and toward the animal coarse grass or hay (such as is light and tough and will not break up) is placed layer after layer until the sides are as full as possible. The corners should be stuffed as hard
as possible by means of a sharp stick. Serious trouble is often experienced on long and toil some marches from loss of flesh, causing the aparejo to fit badly and cause a sore back. Great care must be taken to make good all deficiencies in the stuffing, and when the aparejo is too large to be adapted to a thin animal by stuffing a portion should be cut out of the cen tre. Straw pads are useful for protecting the hips and withers when placed under the cinches of those animals carrying rough loads.
When the aparcjo is stuffed it should be put on the animal for which it is intended and the crupper adjusted. The shape of the apparejo enables all loads to be nicely balanced. One hundred pounds on one side may be made to ride with 50 pounds on the other without straining the animal. It presents much more surface for pressure to the animal than any other form of pack-saddle. The lower cor ners secure the lash-rope and prevent it slip ping when on the road. By removing the hay or stuffing from the side a sore back may be easily remedied and by properly adjusting the filling the aparejo may be made to perfectly fit a badly-shaped back. These may be cited as some of its advantages.