STABLE EOUTINE. 97 



Then, with a sharp knife, cut so as to give the ends of 

 the hair the required slope. 



3rd. Lay the tail, at the desired length, across the 

 edge of a broad adze (Hind. Busoola), and divide the 

 hair by a smart blow with a flat billet of wood. The 

 adze should be held steady, the handle to the rear, the 

 edge horizontal, and the blade sloped, so that the horse 

 may carry his tail level at a walk. Any loose hairs 

 may then be trimmed with the scissors. This is an 

 admirable plan for troopers, with which dispatch and 

 uniformity are matters of consideration. For use with 

 a number of horses, a blade, resembling that of an adze, 

 but broader, may be let into a block of wood 4 or 5 Ibs. 

 in weight. 



Bots. During the autumn months, the bot-fly will 

 endeavour to lay its eggs on the chest and forelegs of 

 horses, especially if the animals be kept much in the 

 open, as when on the march. These eggs adhere to the 

 hair, and, though very minute, may readily be recog- 

 nised by their bright yellow colour, and by their 

 position, which is chosen by the fly, so that the horse 

 may easily lick them off, and thus convey them into his 

 stomach. During these months, syces should be careful 

 to examine their horses after they come in from exercise, 

 and pick off any of those eggs they may detect. 



Stable Routine- The system which is applicable 

 to race-horses, should be the one pursued with all 

 valuable animals, under the modifications that necessity 

 or convenience may require. I may describe it as 

 follows : 



At daybreak, the horse is given about half a gallon of 

 water, and after that a feed of about a pound of corn, 



H 



