Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 109 



these arrangements have to be made by the groom and his master. 

 If the district and route are such that the horse can be at home 

 for the week-end it simplifies matters; but even then it is necessary 

 to carry certain requisites along with them. These are carried on 

 the horse in a double-ended bag slung over his back, balanced and 

 strapped to a broad girth band which is usually buckled round 

 the horse. This bag is designed to carry what corn the horse may 

 require before he gets to his next night's quarters, some food for 

 the groom, a curry comb and brush, any simple ointments or 

 medicines likely to be wanted in an emergency; also attached 

 to or in the bag should be a set of hobbling cords. These hobbling 

 cords should be made of strong inch-thick rope; two ropes about 

 6 ft. long should be spliced together about the middle, leaving four 

 loose ends; to two of these ends should be strongly stitched two 

 straps with buckles to fit round the mare's hind fetlocks, the other 

 two ends to be drawn forward between her fore legs and fastened 

 on her neck, the one end being made with a loop. The operation 

 of hobbling is done in a twinkling, and does not prevent the 

 mare from walking, but it effectually prevents her from kicking 

 out behind. Vicious mares must be guarded against, and the 

 hobbling cords are the safest protection. Many a horse has been 

 seriously hurt by a kick from a mare; and as prevention is better 

 than cure, most careful grooms will not let the horse come neai 

 the mare until the hobbles have been fixed, however quiet she 

 may appear. A light waterproof loin cloth should also be carried 

 in case of heavy showers; this may be folded up neatly when not 

 required. 



The date of the travelling season varies slightly in different 

 parts of the country, but usually continues for three months from 

 the commencement. In England the first of April is the most 

 common date for starting the horse on his rounds. Some breeders 

 are anxious to have the foals early, thinking that if exhibited, the 

 early foal will have a better chance to win. That, however, does 

 not always happen. How often does the foal born in May, and 

 exhibited at the autumn shows in full bloom, beat the early March 

 foal which evidently had experienced a check and was looking 

 stale. As there is greater risk in early foaling and more foals are 

 lost in the early months of the year than after warm summer 

 weather sets in, it is by no means worth the risk, just for the off- 

 chance of having a prize winner, to have the mares foaling in the 

 cold weather. May is usually considered the best time to have 

 the mares foaling, so there is not often much for the horse to do 

 in April. In many districts the farmer would prefer to have the 



