Hints for }Jounted Officers. 



saddlery clean, and to maintain a healthy action of the skin. 

 A horse blanket, mess-tin, great-coat, and a light water- 

 proof sheet, with the line gear, must be carried on the saddle ; 

 the blanket can be used as a numnah, but it is difficult 

 to fold in the dark or in windy weather. If carelessly or un- 

 evenly folded, it will cause a sore back, and it has a tendency to 

 slip off behind from under the saddle. Hence, when possible, it 

 is advisable not to use a large blanket as a numnah. It can be 

 carried behind the saddle rolled up with the line gear and the 

 man's waterproof sheet. A shoe-case and a canvas nosebag 

 with a feed of grain (tightly tied up in it to prevent shaking^ 

 together with a day's ration for the man taken in the mess-tin 

 and haversack), must also be carried. If the wallets have covers, 

 a sheep skin is useless, and only adds to the weight ; the great- 

 coat would be carried over the wallets. With regard to the line 

 gear that has to be carried on each horse, the report of the Kabul 

 Committee gives valuable information. On service the watering 

 bridle and bridoon are unnecessary, the head- stall, which each 

 horse carries on his bridle, being sufficient for all purposes. In 

 Afghanistan the system of fore-shackling was found to be far 

 superior to pickp.ting by the head, Avhich constantly breaks the 

 head-collar, requires a larger amount of rope, and is not so secure 

 a method as tying a horse by a shackle to a fore foot. But it is 

 necessary to train horses in peace time to the use of such 

 shackles, if they are to be used in war. 



COLOUR. White or grey horses are bad for officers, being 

 liable to draw the enemy's fire. They are also subject to mela- 

 nosis. A bay with black points is best. 



COMPENSATION for chargers is payable by Government 

 imder certain rules, contained in paras. 607 to 611 of Pay Code 

 for India, Vol. I, printed at full length at the end of this chapter 

 for easy reference. But the horse must have been entered, with 

 its price, in Regimental or Station Records ; so don't forget to do 

 this at time of purchase, or subsequent claiin may be thereby 



vitiated. 



HOBBLES are very useful in camp, to prevent horse being 

 stampeded or lost, also when rider is dismounted under lire to 

 prevent bolting, and during temporary halts. Two strong 

 padded dog-collars (connected by 12-inch chain) fastened on 

 fore fetlocks is best for military man. Elaborate drawings and 

 description of hobbles and picketing chains are given in clause 

 217, India Army Circular of November, 1882. 



LYING DOWN is taught to horses in the X Royal Hussars 

 and other Cavalry Regiments, and Avill save many lives whilst 



