104 HOESE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



sion. If only smooth matting be procurable, it should 

 be kept covered with about three inches of sand. If 

 possible, battens should not be fixed on the floor of the 

 box; for horses are apt to injure their feet by persistently 

 standing with their heels on these slips of wood. I 

 cannot explain why they adopt this procedure, instead 

 of using the battens as a fixed point for their toes, in 

 the manner intended by man. With their heels on the 

 battens, and their toes on the floor, they adopt a posi- 

 tion which is eminently calculated to induce laminitis. 



Straw should not be put under the horse in rough 

 weather ; as it is very slippery. A little of it, however, 

 may be shaken, a couple of times a day, under the 

 animal, for him to stale on ; so that his legs may not 

 become wet. Straw may, also, be used for preventing 

 the horse from knocking himself about, or from being 

 injured in bad weather. With this object, it is well to 

 have four or five bags filled with straw, to be used as 

 occasion may demand. 



The box should be placed on deck as much amid- 

 ships as possible, and athwart ships ; but not fore and 

 aft. On long tacks, the horse should face to windward ; 

 the box being turned round, if necessary. In placing 

 the box, advantage should be taken of any cover that 

 may afford protection from seas breaking over the 

 vessel. 



Steamers with flush decks and little shear, are by far 

 the worst on which to convey horses on deck. Those 

 provided with high bulwarks are the best. A ship that 

 is light, and is consequently high out of the water, 

 will naturally be safer for horses on deck than if she 

 were deep. 



