CHAPTER V 



THIRD TRIP TO RUSSIA 



Horses in the Baltic during Winter Riding in St. Petersburg Stable Mismanage- 

 ment General Strukof Prince Louis Napoleon Horse Show Railway 

 Travelling Beer and Spirits. 



IN March 1898, I embarked on board the Wilson S.S. 

 Hidalgo, which is sister ship to the Rinaldo. Mr. 

 Little the Russian Line manager and Captain Gordon did 

 their best to make me and the horses comfortable. My lot 

 consisted of the three half-bred hackneys which I had bought 

 from Mr. Hothersall and a thoroughbred entire that had won 

 some races. We were bound for Reval, as the Neva was 

 frozen. Although it was bitterly cold, and the horses were 

 clipped, were in boxes on deck, and had only a warm suit of 

 clothing and a rug on them, they kept in excellent health. 

 The fact that many owners accept a sleek appearance of coat 

 as a proof that the groom has been expending elbow grease 

 liberally in the stable, is no doubt the cause of gentlemen's 

 horses being as a rule overclothed when they are in box or 

 stall. Clothing horses too warmly not only renders them 

 unduly liable to chill when they are taken outside, but also 

 fatigues and enervates them. My experience leads me to 

 the conclusion that no healthy horse is benefited by more 

 clothing in the stable, than a single, thick blanket rug, or a 

 stout kersey quarter sheet. It is evident that when a horse 

 is protected from the wind by a stable, and has a comfortable 



92 



