146 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



ding for the horses. I would advise that, instead of this 

 being done, the owner should allow a rupee a month per 

 horse for straw, requiring in return that the grass-cutter 

 should assist in grooming. 



When marching horses by road, each grass-cutter 

 should accompany his horse, and should carry a feed 

 or two of corn, four or five pounds of grass, a brush and 

 currycomb, a hoof-picker, a rubber, picketing ropes, and 

 any odds and ends required, so that the horses may not 

 be inconvenienced by the carts, which carry the corn, 

 gear, &c., being delayed on the road. One bucket 

 between two or three horses will be sufficient. 



Shoeing-smiths. Native shoeing-smiths generally 

 charge from Rs. 1-4 to Rs. 1-8 for shoeing, and 12 annas 

 for removing. 



With a large stable, it is a good plan to employ a shoe- 

 ing-smith on a fixed salary. As a rule, they are neat 

 workmen, and will readily learn if properly taught. 

 Their pay will vary from Rs. 10 to Rs. 16 ; for this they 

 will shoe and plate their master's horses, and, if attached 

 to a racing stable, will accompany them from one meet- 

 ing to another. They expect permission to shoe during 

 spare hours on their own account. 



Riding Lads. Having got horses to train, the next 

 thing is to find some one to ride them in their gallops, 

 for owners are hardly ever light enough to do this ; besides 

 that, a man can generally train better by superintending 

 work, than by riding gallops himself. If possible, no one 

 over 8 st. 7 Ibs. at the very outside should be put up, 

 for any more weight will certainly tend to shorten the 

 stride of a horse, especially that of small ones like 



