MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 79 



12. Teach your horse to stand without being tied when you are dis- 

 mounted. Feed whenever and wherever you are able to. If you use 

 hobbles, be sure they are soft and will not injure the legs. Be sure 

 that your horse is well shod. When you camp, always tie your horse 

 in as sheltered a spot as possible. 



13. Remember the cause of all bruises and sores on march is direct- 

 ly due to negligence in proper fitting of harness and saddlery, or neg- 

 lect of care of team at halts or lack of knowledge in riding and driv- 

 ing and from no other causes. 



14. The driver must report at once to his section chief the slightest 

 rubbing or galls so that it may be remedied in time, and if discovered 

 on march, he should be replaced and dismounted. The chief of sec- 

 tion is responsible for condition of every horse in his section. 



15. Cold applications, such as a wet cloth bound over a swelling is 

 best treatment to reduce swelling and fever in part. Frequent hand 

 rubbing, stimulation of circulation in back and legs is the golden rule 

 for all drivers to follow on the march. You cannot accomplish a long, 

 continued, successful march without hand massaging at practically 

 all halts. 



16. Continually watch the barrels and loins of your team for 

 "thumps" (rapid breathing due to fatigue). Examine your horse's 

 feet at all halts for stones, nails, bruises, etc. 



MISCELLANEOUS SUGGESTIONS 



1. Be sure and get your horses shod once a month. If you keep 

 the shoes on longer than a month you may set up foot troubles and 

 cause lameness through concussion and strain. See that the horse- 

 shoer does not use his hammer too roughly on your horse's feet as it 

 bruises the leg above. If through sickness an animal cannot be used 

 for two weeks or more, always pull the shoes and allow the bare foot 

 to get ground pressure ; this keeps the foot healthy and strengthens it. 



2. Keep your watering troughs clean. How would you like to drink 

 out of a dirty cup? Feed animals in as clean a way as possible, for grit 

 and sand, when swallowed, cause colic and inflammation of the bowels. 

 Feed boxes should be rinsed with vinegar after feeding bran. 



3. Do not tie your animals with too long a halter shank, 18 in. on 

 line; they are liable to get it caught round a hind pastern, causing 

 what is called "a rope burn." This is a painful wound, that takes a 

 long time to heal, and leaves a permanent scar. Do not tie to fences 

 or hitching posts that are not strong and secure, otherwise you may 

 ruin good horses by your carelessness. 



4. Tie kicking animals by themselves. 



5. Tie sick animals by themselves. 



6. The well animals must be exercised regularly every day, to pro- 

 mote proper assimilation of the food and aid digestion, to prevent stock- 

 ing (swelling) of the legs, and stimulate circulation in the feet, which 

 is so necessary to promote a normal and healthy growth of the horn. 



