MANAGEMENT OF HORSES IN THE OPEN. I39 



for grazing may occur : when halted the horse will not fail to avail himself Oppor- 

 of them if the man allows him. Especially do the scout, the orderly, tumties ot 

 and the small party on detached duty, meet with such opportunities ; *^^J^|^"^^ 

 but unless the men are so trained that it has become second nature to 

 take advantage of them, many will be missed from want of thought or 

 observation, when the mind is occupied by more exciting details. Visits 

 to farmhouses may offer the chance to replenish empty nosebags, and 

 these should be kept full, no matter what the contents, so long as they 

 are eatable. Of course, on service, the niceties of method which we 

 rightly adopt during peace, cannot always be adhered to, and some 

 risks must be taken. Unless time and food are equally plentiful — and Feed 

 this is not very often the case — the latter should be eaten Avhenever when you 

 opportunity occurs, even with the prospect of immediate severe work : f5^ 

 it is better under the circumstances that some cAses of colic, and 

 perhaps a death from ruptured stomach be risked, than the chance of a 

 feed be missed, a chance which perhaps may not recur for many 

 hours. 



On the march the principle of feeding little and often should be The object 

 adopted : at every halt of sufficient duration the nosebag should be put lesson of 

 on. The London cab-horse is probably called upon to perform the ^^^ ^^^' 

 most severe continuous daily work of any light horse in England ; at ^^'^'"^^• 

 any moment he may be called on to trot at a fast pace, drawing a 

 considerable load, for half an hour or an hour at a stretch ; and 

 frequently during the day gets fast work for shorter periods. His 

 nosebag is kept on constantly when at rest, and the plan answers 

 admirably. At no time is the stomach overloaded, at no time is it quite 

 empty. It is a method which, as far as possible, should be imitated 

 on the march. 



When marching long distances the portability of food becomes a Com- 

 serious question, and compressed rations of various descriptions are pressed 

 likely to be issued. Of whatever materials these consist they *o"*^s 

 should be well broken up and, if possible, mixed with any procur- 

 able fodder, which will give them bulk, e.g.^ chaff, chopped straw 

 or grass ; and just previous to feeding they should be well damped 

 as they are very dusty. Cocoa, biscuit, meal of any description, and Various 

 even meat may be made use of ; and the addition of a few ounces of emer- 

 sugar to a limited ration is a great help in sustaining horses engaged on p"fy 

 a prolonged effort. The Turcomans were in the habit of giving their 

 horses balls of meat, wheat meal and sugar in small quantities previous 

 to and when engaged on raiis, and the natives of India make use of 

 wheat flour in the same manner during long marches. 



