EQUIPMENT 235 



grooming stimulates the supply of oil to the skin 

 and hair ; but from careful observation I think 

 this applies rather to the long and severe 

 grooming of stabled thoroughbreds than to 

 that Hck and a promise which horses in the 

 lines actually get in bad weather. Just 

 enough grooming is done to remove the oil, 

 but not enough to stimulate the supply. 



I note that the more disastrous practices 

 are those of tradition and custom, and are 

 difficult to trace if one is seeking authority 

 from the Regulations and authorized manuals. 

 These are framed in a most reasonable spirit, 

 and allow wide discretion to the Commanding 

 Officer. So far as my experience goes, experi- 

 ence and research has not only been tolerated 

 by the Authorities, but actively encouraged 

 and helped. 



Equipment. The appHcation to Army use 

 of a saddle made for falHng off seems a Httle 

 eccentric until one begins to reason. The idea 

 is not without value, because an Army in 

 time of peace is really a school of manhood, 

 which needs extending until every youth has 

 been made into a man before he gets a vote as 

 a citizen. At a cost of life not greatly exceed- 

 ing the death-rate from closed windows 

 (phthisis) we have under stress of war an 



