>62 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



as possible. The method to be adopted is as follows : As many horses as 

 possible are to be taken out of the stalls for exercise (if exercise cannot 

 he given they should be stood in spare stalls or other available space), 

 their stalls are cleared of all droppings, which are placed in skips 

 provided for the purpose ; the platforms are raised, the deck cleaned and 

 the whole sprinkled with the dry disinfectants provided. On exposed 

 decks the salt-water hose is an effectual aid to cleanliness, and the 

 greatest care must be taken not to block the drainage pipes leading from 

 the scuppers. This is a quite common occurrence and the result is that 

 urine collects on the deck instead of draining away, has to be pumped 

 up by hand, and the state of the atmosphere is rendered absolutely 

 poisonous. The keeping free of the scuppers should therefore receive 

 great attention and be the subject of a standing order to all concerned. 



When it is only possible to move a few horses at a time they may be 

 shifted in rotation into the cleaned stalls and those originally moved placed 

 in the stalls last cleaned. 



The following articles are provided : — 



Wooden hoes. 

 Triangular steel scrapers 



with 2-ft. handle. 

 Iron hand shovels. J 



•I. 



per 3 



, , f Mops, 4-ft. handles. 

 1 Baskets for dung. 



^^^^b^««"^^|i per 5 animals. 

 Squeegees J ^ 



Watering. Watering. — An ample water supply is essential, and horses should as 



a rule be watered three, or, if the weather is hot, four times daily. A fresh 

 water force pump is fitted to each stable deck, and a 30-gallon tub is stood 

 by it to dip buckets in ; 3-garion buckets being provided at the rate of 

 one to six animals. 



Feeding. Feeding. — As regards feeding during a voyage, horses on board ship 



are under similar conditions to animals standing idle in narrow stalls on 

 shore, and should be fed accordingly, that is, they should receive about 

 half an average ration of corn and a full supply of fodder. This will be 

 sufficient to prevent their falling off in condition without over-feeding them. 

 The question as to exactly how much they receive daily is a matter for 

 some discretion on the part of the commanding officer ; at the beginning 

 of a voyage and during very hot or very rough weather rather less than the 

 average may be advisable ; whilst with favourable conditions and facilities 

 for plenty of exercise a rather more liberal scale would be justified. 



