VI INTRODUCTION. 



In preparing these notes, I have kept in view the 

 difficulties to be contended with in carrying out the 

 golden rule that horses must be " fit, not fat." To 

 attain this, the greatest vigilance is required even 

 in little matters and more especially in regard to 

 rations. 



If these hints, which are of the most elementary 

 kind, and are ex]>ressed in the simplest terms at 

 my command, in any way assis' young officers and 

 sergeants in maintaining the horses under their 

 charge in a healthy and fit condition, ready for 

 work when the pinch comes, I shall feel amply 

 rewarded for the time spent in their preparation. 



Since writing the above, the pinch has come. We 

 have seen the officers and men who were ignorant 

 of Horsemastersbip, absolutely useless and worse 

 than useless in war. From General Officers to pri- 

 vates, those who in war ignored the necessity for the 

 greatest care and trouble in these matters, as a rule, 

 failed signally. The former's command dwindled 

 from thousands to hundreds in a few weeks, the 

 latter's mounts '" gave in " in a few days. 



Only a few degrees less hopeless were those who 

 had been consistent " horsecoddlers," advocates of 

 the fat and pursey horse standing in straw up to his 

 hocks with a Newmarket lick on his quarters : the 

 horse who must not work lest he lose his condition. 



There are few desirable accomplishments which 

 are not the outcome of labour of brain or body, 

 and expense in health or pocket. The art of good 



