53 



Let each man clearly understand that he 

 is responsible for his own horse's welfare, and 

 that he must immediately report anything 

 wrong with it, especially as to the feet and 

 back ; a slight swelling or heat lump on the 

 back can usually be obviated by a different 

 folding of the blanket, but the cause should 

 be first sought, and, if possible, removed. 

 Continued pressure on the swelling causes 

 the skin to die, the flesh underneath it then 

 festers, and a sore back results, which will 

 take at least a month to heal. Ten minutes' 

 care and a little common sense would have 

 prevented this. 



Bad riding, lolling about in the saddle, 

 constant passing of pipes and lights back- 

 wards and forwards, and resting the hand 

 on the butt of the carbine are frequent 

 causes of sore backs, which proper supervi- 

 sion will check. 



If an officer sees a man on the march 

 resting himself sideways on the saddle or 

 riding in a slovenly way he should at once 

 cause him to dismount and walk. 



Men, who are ordered to walk as a punish- 

 ment or becauBe their horses' backs are sore, 

 should be placed under the charge of the 



