96 INSTRUCTIONAL WORK BY A.V.S. 



It is to be hoped in the interest of stock that such measures 

 can be introduced soon. The Army with its Veterinary Service 

 on a self-contained basis, complete with its own trained 

 personnel, and with its Veterinary Hospitals properly organised 

 and conducted, will have every facility for carrying out its 

 desired programme in conjunction with the Civil Authorities. 



Chaptbe V. 



INSTEUCTION IN SHOEING 

 AND SCHOOLS OF FAKEIEEY. 



Almost from time immemorial, the advisory council in 

 respect to shoeing of animals of the Army, the supervision of 

 training of Farriers and Shoeing-smiths, and questions regard- 

 ing the fixing of the various patterns of shoes, have been vested 

 in and referred to the Veterinary Service of the Army. 

 Eegimental Veterinary subordinate assistance has from distant 

 ages been carried out by the Farriery Establishment. The 

 great majority of lameness is referable to the foot, and often 

 the remedy is special shoeing. The interests of the Farriery 

 Establishments of units and all that appertains to their duties 

 have been carefully watched and assisted by Army Veterinary 

 Service. 



Training is essentially regimental, and so far as British units 

 are concerned this system was very pointedly ordered by Army 

 Council Instruction about two years ago. Schools of Farriery 

 which were organised during the war being closed down. A 

 regimental system of training may be quite satisfactory in 

 peace time, but it falls to the ground in war, and recourse must 

 then be taken to teaching in Schools or Depots. A different 

 system in peace and war is not judicious, and a change at a 

 critical time is hardly good business. Personally I am of 

 opinion that all training of shoeing-smiths should be conducted 

 in properly organised Schools of Farriery. It would suit Indian 

 requirements much better than a watertight regimental system 

 which is difficult in the case of small units and in those of 

 Administrative Services and Departments. Moreover, by 



