10 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



let me apologize for venturing to address 

 you on this important subject. As most 

 of you know, all the time I have been 

 with you I have had, either in Ireland or 

 in England, from half a dozen to twenty 

 race-horses under my own charge and care. 

 I have lived for over two years at New- 

 market, the headquarters of the horse in his 

 highest development. There is no trainer — 

 I prefer the word horse-master — there with 

 whom I am not on terms of personal friend- 

 ship and with many of whom I have discussed 

 questions of horse-mastership. Add to this 

 the fact that, while we are now, I think, com- 

 plete in our list of combative officers, if you 

 look at the Army List you will see two 

 spaces that have never been filled in the 

 South Irish Horse. I refer to the spaces 

 under the headings of '* Veterinary Officer " 

 and " Chaplain." Now, I fear that my well- 

 known fondness for the horse has for ever 

 disqualified me — to say nothing of other 

 disabilities — from taking the place of your 

 sky-pilot ; still, I do think that my medical 



