230 POLO IN INDIA. [Chap. IX. 



animals have plenty of bedding and clothing. Nothing 

 knocks off their condition more than to be short of 

 these necessaries ; for they feel cold severely, and 

 Indian stables are draughty. 



9. xAs drainage is difficult to manage in India, mud 

 floors to stables are better than solid ones, which are sel- 

 dom well made in that country. The great advantage of 

 the mud flooring is that it can be constantly renewed, the 

 foul portions being removed every morning, and replaced 

 by fresh earth. In damp climates, such as the indigo 

 districts, that awful scourge " kumry " (paralysis of the 

 loins) would be to a great extent avoided if the floors 

 of the stables were raised about three feet above the 

 level of the ground. 



10. Syces should be allowed to exercise ponies 

 only with big, smooth, unjointed snaffles ; not with 

 the thin abominations in ordinary use. When the 

 ponies are being led, the mouthpiece should be a 

 smooth, round ring, so that, in all cases, more pressure 

 will not be put on one side of the mouth than on the 

 other. The leading reins should be short enough to 

 obviate the danger of the ponies stepping on them, 

 and getting tripped up, in the event of the ponies 

 breaking away from their syces, as they are often 

 apt to do. 



The following would be a good daily programme 

 of work, grooming and feeding in an Indian polo 

 stable during the hot weather. The only difference 

 I would advise for the cold weather, would be that 

 the work should begin at daylight. It should be 

 remembered that too much attention cannot be paid 

 to regularity in the hours of feeding and exercise. 

 If the same thing is done every day at the same 



