LIGHT HORSE. 211 



buckskins would be too troublesome for common wear ; 

 pantaloons, or even knickerbocker breeches, not too 

 loose, of stout cloth, would have plenty of wear, and want 

 but little cleaning, nothing, indeed, but brushing, as the 

 stripe common to all overalls, and which takes a good 

 deal of pipeclay or chrome yellow, might be dispensed 

 with. A pair of gaiters and highlows for fatigue dress 

 would be comfortable and convenient. The stable 

 management of the horse I have hardly glanced at. It 

 is generally pretty well managed, though sufficient atten- 

 tion is not paid to coughs and colds, which neglect 

 shows itself in the number of troopers who are roarers. 

 Also an occasional dose of physic would benefit the 

 Queen's horses as much as it does the human subjects ; 

 but unless on special occasions they never get it. 

 Shoeing is always important, and might be improved 

 upon. My fondness for the Charlier shoe is no secret ; 

 but on service, or when dragoons are likely to be de- 

 tached and away from their own farriers, the fitting of 

 such shoes might be difficult. Therefore I should prefer 

 in such cases tips on the forefeet ; they wear longer than 

 common shoes, and do not easily come off, neither do 

 they pick up stones or ball with snow. The hind feet 

 might wear common shoes, the sole being left in a 

 state of nature. This shoeing I should recommend only 

 where the Charlier shoe is inaccessible. There can be 

 no doubt that a regiment armed, trained, and mounted 

 something after this fashion could move about more 

 rapidly than the dragoons we possess at present. Where 

 baggage carts cannot travel (though they could go 

 wherever artillery could there are countries devoid 

 of high roads), baggage animals could transport the 

 valises (as they did, and very likely do) in India. 



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