54 



Assistant Provost Marshal, or the police; 

 their horses should be led with the troop or 

 squadron. 



It may be regarded as an axiom that a 

 horse which is ridden by a good and careful 

 rider who picks his way, rides on the grass at 

 the side of the road when possible, cares for 

 his horse and keeps him well up to his bit 

 when tired, can carry three stone more than 

 one ridden by a mutton-fisted ignoramus. 



The importance of strictly carrying out 

 the order that saddles should not be re- 

 moved immediately after a horse comes in 

 from a long march will be better understood 

 if the reason is explained. During the 

 march the weight of the man and his equip- 

 ment constricts the vessels of the skin (i.e., 

 cause them to contract) under the saddle 

 and keeps the blood out of them. This is 

 especially the case at any place where undue 

 pressure is caused by a badly fitting saddle. 

 When this weight is removed, the vessels are 

 suddenly filled again, and their walls cannot 

 withstand the increased strain, so the fluid 

 part of the blood escapes and causes a swell- 

 ing. If, on the other hand, the saddles are 

 left on for an hour or so on coming from the 



