66 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



If a muzzle is used, it should be a wire one, not 

 leather, as these get very foul and dirty, and inter- 

 fere with the horse's breathing, which the wire one 

 does not. 



Exercise. 



In India it is usual to exercise ordinary hacks, 

 polo ponies, and harness horses, not doing any 

 special work, twice a day — morning and evening. 

 The length of time they are out, and the amount 

 of ground they cover, is very variable — in most 

 cases depending on whether the "syce" is in a 

 mood to take exercise or not himself. They usually 

 take horses out on the road to the bazaar, or some 

 favourite meeting-place ; and it is not an uncommon 

 thing to see a couple of dozen horses, belonging to 

 various people, standing about, while their respec- 

 tive *' syces " are sitting about, smoking and dis- 

 cussing their masters and various bazaar topics of 

 interest. Under these circumstances the horses do 

 not get much exercise; and many a mysterious injury, 

 that cannot be accounted for, is inflicted by their 

 kicking at each other while standing about in this 

 manner. If the compound is large enough, it is a 

 good plan to make a ring with the stable litter 

 and have the horses exercised round it. You can 



