MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 169 



shelter, not in a draft, and rub him with a wisp until dry. Hand rub- 

 bing is invaluable. The horse is a trained athlete, treat him as such. 

 Apply the same general rules of health and hygiene to your horse as 

 you would to yourself. 



10. Never water a horse when heated, unless the exercise or march 

 is to be immediately resumed. Sponging out the mouth and nostrils 

 is refreshing to the heated horse and will not hurt him. If the water 

 has the chill taken off, the horse may be given a small drink. On a 

 long, dusty march, a wet sponge is invaluable to refresh your horses 

 by sponging muzzles. For this purpose each section should carry on a 

 caisson a canvas bucket filled with water on a dry march. 



11. Never allow a horse's back to be cooled suddenly. To cool the 

 back gradually, remove the pack and equipment from the saddle, loosen 

 the girth, remove the blanket and replace it with the dry side next the 

 horse, replace the saddle, girthing it looseh^ Never allow the hot 

 sun-rays on a wet back; it is the quickest way to blister it. 



12. Never feed grain to a horse when heated. Hay will not hurt a 

 horse however heated he may be. A horse that has been without feed 

 should be fed hay first so as to take the edge off his appetite. 



13. Never throw cold water on any part of a horse when heated. 



14. On leaving the stable move at a walk for a short time in order 

 to get the horse's legs under him, and circulation started. 



15. Vary the gaits but do not depart from the regulation pace pre- 

 scribed for each. A fast walk, a fast trot, and a fast gallop are very tir- 

 ing. It is better for animals to take the next higher gait than increase 

 the regulation gait. 



16. Choose for the rapid gaits nearly level ground. Going up hill 

 rapidly necessitates great effort on the part of the horse, and going 

 down hill at a rapid gait exposes him to injuries from the saddle and 

 equipment, and is hard on his forelegs. 



17. Extend progressively the periods at the faster gaits. Be sure 

 your horse is "hard" before you use the faster gaits. 



18. Regulate the periods spent at the intermediate gaits by the degree 

 of rapidity with which the total distance must be covered. 



19. Seek under all circumstances soft footing to save the horse's 

 legs, and keep him therefore, on the edge of metalled roads rather than 

 in the middle. Never trot on macadamized or paved roads. 



20. Choose hard ground when smooth and level in preference to 

 ground that is heavy or uneven. 



21. Finish at a walk, more or less prolonged as the journey has been 

 more or less long and trying, so that the horse shall always come in 

 with a dry skin and normal respiration. 



22. The rule is to walk at least ten minutes before reaching the 

 stables. Stable sergeant to be responsible for condition of all mounts 

 that come in. Men riding on pass must groom their horses and have 

 them inspected by the stable sergeant before they can be put up. This 

 rule must be carried out. All horses that are allowed to go out must be 

 kept on record, so that any injury or al:)use can be eliminated and the 

 offender denied the privilege of further pass. 



