126 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, 



Knee 

 haltering 

 at graze. 



that the use of his eyes in this matter is as much a duty as any other part 

 of his military education. In many stations exercise may be combined 

 with grazing, and where government or pubHc land is available, parties 

 may be sent out under a non-commissioned officer at any convenient time. 

 Men should be encouraged to take their horses out to any available patch 

 about the barracks : halts on the march, at field days, whenever 

 dismounted, may sometimes be taken advantage of without interfering 

 with other duty, provided the man has been accustomed on such 

 occasions to look round on his horse's account. Incidentally the 

 practice of grazing may be taken advantage of to accustom horses to 

 knee haltering and to teach them to stand without being held. Horses 

 that are trained to graze and stand quietly acquire habits which are most 

 valuable in the field. 



Bulk 

 essential. 



Effect of 



bulky 



food. 



Application of Principles. 



In the practical appiicatioji of the principles of feeding, shrewd 

 observation of the animal under all conditions, and sound common-sense 

 in stable arrangements must be added to the knowledge which may be 

 usefully derived from a book. All are not equally gifted in this respect, 

 but anyone of average intelligence can make himself sufficiently familiar 

 with the details of animal management to keep healthy horses in good 

 condition, provided he not only reads up the subject but also takes the 

 trouble to acquire that practical knowledge which only observation can 

 give. Whatever the work, the food must be suitable in amount and quality. 



Bulk esse?itiaL — Without sufficient bulk, condition cannot be maintained 

 for long, however nourishing the food, but where fast work is required and 

 the lighter class of horse concerned, the bulk should naturally be less than 

 when heavy, slow work and draught horses are to be legislated for, and a 

 fine class of hay or other fodder is desirable. The effect of bulky food on 

 the respiration immediately after a meal has also to be borne in mind 

 relative to the class of work and for this reason it is ifiadvisable to feed 

 with hay to any extoit before the day's work begins, if it is to be of a fast 

 character. Exhausting work has a temporarily weakening effect on the 

 digestion, and tired horses should be allowed to recover from its effects 

 before they are asked to digest a heavy meal. Plenty of water, a mouth- 

 ful of hay, a small and sloppy feed and warmth, until the system has 

 recovered from exhaustion, should be the treatment prescribed in such 

 cases. 



Generally speaking, horses are, when once in condition, hardy, greedy 

 animals, and, if judiciously fed and worked, easy to keep in good heart and 



