42 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



plished by systematic exercise and feeding', which must be continued 

 even after the condition has been attained. 



The exercise must be regular and graduated and always within the 

 limits of the animal's strength. Working tired animals when unfit 

 is very apt to cause accidents or disease. This is the time when 

 they are most likely to sustain bad falls and sprains. But once they 

 are put in fit condition, any work within reason will not only be per- 

 formed without great effort, but will add to the quality of the condi- 

 tion already attained. 



If animals are thrown out of work for any considerable time the 

 process of conditioning will have to be repeated. The minimum 

 amount of systematic exercise necessary to maintain animals in work- 

 ing condition is two hours daily, and those responsible for the care 

 of animals must see that that amount is given. 



Ordinarily animals regularly exercised will not suffer by resting on 

 Sunday, but the ration must be reduced accordingly. 



The kind and amount of exercise given to animals depends upon the 

 work they are to perform, the condition of the animals and number 

 of men .available to give it. When there is one man available to 

 exercise one or two animals, as in a troop of Cavalry, the most satis- 

 factory exercise can be had, for each man can give his animals the kind 

 and amount they need. But when there are many animals and very 

 few men as at Remount Depots and Veterinary Hospitals, exercise 

 becomes a more difficult matter and special means must be adopted 

 to get the animals exercised at all. 



When individual exercise can be given, as in the first case, the 

 animals can be ridden, driven, led. or longed. In leading, one man 

 should lead but one animal. When the proportion of men to horses is 

 small the lead line is recommended. This consists of a rope either of 

 one piece or jointed, to which animals are fastened in pairs. The for- 

 ward end of the line attaches to a single or double tree of the harness 

 on the lead horse or horses. Neck straps will serve almost as well as 

 the breast strap harness as there is very little pulling required. Two 

 short tie ropes about a foot long with snaps are spliced or secured to 

 the line at intervals of eleven or twelve feet. The rear end of the line 

 is attached to the harness of one or two horses with breeching. Horses 

 are snapped to each tie rope. 



These lines can be made for any number of animals, but experience 

 has proven that lines of from 20 to 30 animals are the best all around. 

 Twenty-four animal lines are recommended. They require but four 

 men to operate, or one man to six animals. One man rides a lead horse, 

 one the rear horse of a middle pair and one a rear horse. The fourth 

 man is an outrider and rides whenever he may be needed. Care must 

 be taken in starting and stopping to keep the line taut or else tangles 

 will result. In long marches the rear horses must be reHeved two or 

 three times a day as the work on them is 

 horses should be selected for this purpose. 



