MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 83 



improved in appearance but not obliterated by similar use of the leather 

 polish. 



Russet leather may be cleaned, oiled and polished as described above, 

 but it should be noted if more than a light coat of oil be given the 

 leather will be greatly darkened and will quickly soil the clothing. No 

 method of cleaning will restore the original light color of the leather or 

 remove stains or discolorations. 



CARE OF BLACK LEATHER 



To clean and dress black leather, wash it in water (lukewarm pre- 

 ferred) with Castile soap. An old horse brush will be found very satis- 

 factory for applying the soap and water. Dry in the shade ; when al- 

 most dry, apply the blacking, rubbing it in thoroughly. 



Dry in the shade and then apply neats foot oil with a sponge or rag, 

 rubbing it in well until the leather is soft and pliable. 



When dry, a certain amount of oil and blacking will exude from the 

 leather; this should be rubbed off with a dry cloth. 



CARE OF HARNESS 



For steel work ALWAYS HAVE AN OILY RAG; no driver or 

 mounted soldier is complete without it ; it is one of his best friends ; 

 use it at halts, especially in wet, damp and showery weather. The oil 

 on the steel will save hours of work. On active service keep your steel 

 work in oil ; if harness is not in use wipe off the old oil and renew it. 



Always wipe the oil off the bit before putting it into the horse's 

 mouth as the horse dislikes the taste of it as much as you do. To clean 

 steel use oil and silver sand (or better still brick dust), or you can sub- 

 stitute water for oil and oil the steel after it is clean. Use a good rag 

 and place one end of the article to be cleaned on a fixed hook, the other 

 end on the hook on your belt and draw taut. 



LEATHER WORK 



(Especially girths, breast collars and breechings) must be kept soft 

 and supple : sponge it with clean COLD water and then soap it. Dub- 

 bin should be used extensively. 



LEATHER AND METAL 



Leather: Leather equipment should always be kept in the best pos- 

 sible condition in order to obtain the greatest amount of service from it. 

 When leather is in proper condition it is clean, soft, and pliable, and 

 will stand severe strain. It can only be kept in that condition by con- 

 stant care. 



New leather is usually stiff, dry. and hard, and requires frequent 

 dressings of neats foot or other oil to make it pliable. Once it has 

 been put in proper shape, oiling once a \yeek will ordinarily suffice to 

 keep it so. 



