GREAT BRITAIN. 291 



allow of the training of large numbers of men in the ranks as shoers, while 

 also making provision for a supply of veterinary assistants for war service 

 from the farrier staff sergeants and sergeants and shoeing-smiths who have 

 successfully passed through the Aldershot or other recognized military 

 veterinary school. 



The remaining half of the shoes will be made from old shoes, and the 

 remaining half of the nails from nail rod supplied on requisition, in order 

 to instruct and keep the shoers in practice, so that in cases of emergency, 

 as when the supply of shoes or nails fails, but the materials for making 

 them are available, there may be no interruption to the shoeing. It is 

 estimated that one and a half or two old shoes will suifice to make a 

 new one. 



Fuel, tools, aprons, and other materials necessary for shoeing, as laid 

 down in the equipment regulations, will be supplied from store at regular 

 intervals, or on application when required. 



The maximum requirement of shoes should not exceed 18 sets a year per 

 horse, and with care it may, under favorable conditions, be considerably 

 reduced. The supply of nails is more than is necessary for new shoes ; 

 indeed, in the smaller sizes of shoes, and particularly the fore ones, all 

 the nail holes need not be filled, five nails being generally sufficient for 

 each shoe, if well placed and driven in the hoof ; the surplus can therefore 

 be iitilized in removing shoes or replacing lost ones. Loss or waste of 

 shoes and nails is to be carefully guarded against, and when it can be 

 clearly proved that this is due to negligence on the part of the farriers, 

 or others, they should be required to replace them at their own expense. 



A new rasp should last, when supplemented by an old one, from six 

 weeks to two months, or longer. This is the tool which must be replaced 

 most frequently. The wear of the other tools is indefinite, but they will 

 not be replaced at the public expense unless certified that they are fairly 

 worn out, or broken or lost through no fault of the farriers. 



It is necessary that the training of farrier staff sergeants and sergeants 

 and shoeing-smiths, to act as hospital assistants on active service, be kej)t 

 up in regiments, even when they have passed a course of instruction at the 

 Aldershot or other recognized military veterinary school ; and veterinary 

 officers are to afford them every opportunity in this direction. 



The squadron shoeing-smiths are to be trained so as to be in readiness 

 for promotion to the rank of farrier sergeant ; and those who are to be 

 made shoeing-smiths should be selected from the best men for the purpose. 



It is incumbent upon commanding officers to watch carefully the working 

 of the system, in order to prevent waste, and they will hold the veterinary 

 officers in charge responsible that the horses are not shod oftener than is 

 actually necessary, and that all shoes, nails, iron, and coals issued to the 

 farriers are appropriated solely to the uses for which they are supplied. 



VI. — INSTRUCTION OF SOLDIERS IN COLD-SHOEING. 



With the view of insuring thoroughness and uniformity in the instruc- 

 tion of soldiers in shoeing horses, in the manner required to be followed 

 on active service, directions for instruction are laid down in Appendix 

 VIII. Shoes are provided ready for immediate application to the hoofs, or 

 needing only trifling alteration in shape in special cases ; and nails are also 



