38 WAGNER and TREVOR 



be relied upon, though a Baited" ! ) horse can be taken almost 

 anywhere with reasonable security. 



Immunised mules have in many districts proved very useful for 

 saddle purposes, being extensively employed in Southern Rodesia. 

 Good riding mules are, however, proverbially difficult to obtain and 

 at best are not nearly so tractable as horses. 



The price af horses in the Union and Rhodesia varies from about 

 20.0.0. for ordinary saddle horses to 65.0.0. for a salted horse ; 

 and that of mules from 20.0.0. to 45.0.0. 



Riding donkeys are used to some extent in East Africa and are 

 quite satisfactory though, of course, slower than horses. 



In purchasing saddles for South African work the pattern sold 

 as "Colonial" with the largest possible u D"s and web girths should 

 be selected. The Colonial pattern saddle bags, folded over the crupper 

 of the saddle, are much the best as they take no time to fix and 

 are very capacious. Saddles, reins and all forms of horness should 

 be frequently dressed with "Dubbin" or saddle soap as they are 

 otherwise liable rapidly to deteriorate. 



Wallets are a nuisance aud are not necessary unless it is required 

 to take the greatest amount possible on a saddle. 



African horses are accustomed to a heavy curb bit and single 

 rein. Crupper straps, etc. and all fancy equipment should be avoided. 

 Though a crupper or martingale is nesessary in mountainous country 

 it can always be improvised out of a spare girth. 



It is possible to get horses shod by the inhabitants anywhere 

 in the Union, but outside the mountainous districts it is better to 

 buy a horse that is not accustomed to being shod aud to do with- 

 out shoes as long as possible. 



Pack Horses and Mules. In mountainous regions free from horse 

 sickness and the tsetse fly, e.g. Basutoland, pack horses and mules 

 remain the favourite means of transport. Horses are preferable to 

 mules as they are less difficult to handle and have greater powers 

 of endurance, this applying particularly to the Basuto pony, which 

 is undoubtedly among the hardiest and most sure footed of all 

 breeds of horse. 



For carrying packs, which should not exceed 200 Ibs. in weight, 

 the cross-tree type of saddle is the best. 



1) A salted horse is one that has been attacked by horse sickness and 

 recovered. 



