HORSES ON BOARD SHIP 47 



the hoofs^ instead of its being distributed over the whole 

 of the lower surface of the feet. The employment of coir 

 matting for the feet and cotton wadding bandages (see 

 Veterinary Notes for PI or se- owners] for the legs, so as to 

 maintain the due circulation of blood in these parts, is the 

 best means for preventing this disease among horses which 

 have to travel by sea. 



The improper application of slings under horses on board 

 ship has been the cause of many a good animal losing his 

 life. Contrary to an opinion which is far too common among 

 ignorant people, the legitimate use of slings is to enable a 

 horse to bear on them when he likes, and not to lift him off 

 his legs. It stands to reason that the more weight is taken 

 off a horse's legs by slings, the more insecure will be his foot- 

 hold, and the more liable will he be to be dashed against the 

 sides of his box in the event of the ship pitching and rolling. 

 Horse-boxes should of course be placed athwart ships, and 

 not fore and aft ; because the inclination of the deck is much 

 greater when a lively ship rolls than when she pitches. 



I landed the horses all right at St. Petersburg, to 

 which place the Chevaliers Gardes had returned after 

 the manoeuvres at Krasnoe Selo. Colonel Kasnakof was 

 so overjoyed with his mare that he thanked me afresh 

 every time he met me ; and to do me a good turn, he got 

 the Grand Duke Nicholas to come and see the six horses I 

 had brought out. On the previous day I was told that they 

 were to be shown in one of the riding schools belonging to 

 the Chevaliers Gardes, and that I was to jump the grey in the 

 school for the Grand Duke. On hearing that news I hastened 

 off to the school with the gelding to try him over some 

 hurdles ; for I knew that he had never performed in a 

 manege, and that " made" hunters are often very averse from 

 being larked over artificial obstacles in cold blood. The 

 light was bad in the school, and the grey being disconcerted 



