422 THE HORSE 



I arrived with my veterinary surgeon we were shown the 

 rejected horses, and on looking at them we both at once 

 declared that we had never seen them before, and, producing 

 our books, were soon able to show that none of the markings 

 corresponded with any we had purchased. We then passed 

 on to the batch that were held up as the type required, when 

 we instantly recognised the animals we had forwarded, and 

 again producing our books triumphantly pointed out each 

 animal, showing also from whom it had been bought, and 

 the price paid for it. To obviate any similar mistakes being 

 made in future — and such did occur more than once — I 

 requested permission from the Inspector-General to have a 

 private brand of my own, saying that I was quite willing to 

 bear any blame on my shoulders which might be deserved, but 

 that I did not want the faults of others to be fathered upon 

 me. The request was readily granted, and henceforward every 

 animal purchased by me was branded on the off fore-foot 

 with the letters M.T., besides the War Office brand on the 

 near fore-foot. At first the dealers were curious to inquire 

 the reason why two brands were used, when the veterinary 

 surgeon used delightedly to reply, "To show we are not 

 ashamed of our purchases ! " At various times I have had 

 the pleasure of being told by men who had been out in 

 South Africa how well some horse had carried them which 

 was branded with the mysterious letters which they did not 

 understand but which were always prized when seen. 

 Another testimony to the value of the brand was supplied 

 after the war, when some of the colonial troops were brought 

 to England to share in the great review. My veterinary 

 surgeon was attached to a body of them, and when he joined 

 he found them loudly complaining of the quality of the 

 horses which had been handed over to them. " We have 

 picked out some of the best," they said, "which are down 

 there, but the rest are brutes." A sudden thought crossed 

 the mind of the veterinary surgeon, and he inquired, " Have 

 the selected horses got any special mark on them, by any 

 chance?" "Yes," was the answer, "they are nearly all 

 branded M.T. Do you know the reason of it? " He soon 

 enlightened them, and went at once to inspect them, 



