78 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



Ordinary cold water or even ice cold water is highly recommended 

 by many as a rectal injection for horses overcome by the excessive heat 

 of summer. 



A FEW USEFUL "CASUALTY" HINTS AND THINGS WORTH 



KNOWING 



1. It is absolutely essential that the horses of every unit should be 

 hard and fit, and free from galls, cracked heels, sore withers, and back 

 sores. 



2. An irritable harness or saddle mark may be prevented from be- 

 coming a sore or gall if attended to in its initial stages, as either pres- 

 sure or chafing are always the origin of this. 



3. The cause must be sought for and removed as soon as possible. 



4. With a saddle gall the blanket or numnah may be so adjusted 

 that no pressure is put upon the part, or it may be necessary to cut a 

 piece out directly over the spot. An extra blanket folded to relieve 

 pressure often gives relief. 



5. For BREAST COLLAR, BREECHING AND TRACE GALLS 

 there is nothing better than a piece of sheepskin. The caisson corpor- 

 al should always have some sheepskin in his saddlebag. As soon as 

 the gall is discovered he can cut out a piece just larger than the gall and 

 splice it to the piece of harness with strong khaki cotton. If time does 

 not permit of this he should put on a sheepskin pad already made up 

 with tapes sewed to each corner and in the middle ; he should always 

 have a few of these handy as well as some wither pads. Cotton band- 

 age is indispensible. 



6. If a horse starts KICKING (e. g., as in an accident) hold his head 

 UP as high as you can ; in this position he loses the power of kicking. 



7. If a horse PL^LLS. loosen the curb chain ; also try to ride him with 

 a lighter rein. This sounds contrary to what one would expect ought 

 to be done, but it is a very sound "tip," because the more you pull the 

 horse the more he will pull you. 



8. Always LEAD A HORSE by the collar or bridle, not by the bit. 

 Do not look back at horse when leading. Remember Lot's wife, and 

 your horse won't follow you either. 



9. A horse drinks from 8 to 12 gallons of water a day. 



10. Wet bran acts as a laxative on horses ; on most horses it is bind- 

 ing when dry. 



11. Teach your horse that raising his feet will do him no harm. Start 

 this lesson at the first grooming. Encourage the horse to surrender 

 his foot and when he does, lower it again quietly and pat him. Later 

 use the brush on the soles of his feet ; next tap the soles lightly with a 

 currycomb ; finally take the shoer's position and go through the same 

 steps. By following these instructions carefully and using the neces- 

 sary amount of patience, the feet of even a comparatively vicious horse 

 can be handled with the greatest ease and safety. 



