16 Stable Management and the Prevention of Disease 



them masalih. In the small quantities given it probably 

 does no harm, but it is certainly unnecessary. All that 

 horses really require is salt, and measures should be taken to 

 ensure this being given regularly. 



Heel Eopes. 



Horses in India are usually fastened with heel-ropes in 

 addition to the head collar-rope. The latter does not slide 

 through a ring as in English stables, but is fa.stened to a peg 

 driven into the ground close to the manger. The practice of 

 using heel-ropes was adopted from the natives, and doubtless 

 originated in consequence of nearly all horses being entire. 

 Until about twenty years ago all the Government horses, 

 except a few that were very vicious, were uncastrated, and it 

 was generally believed that they were capable of more 

 endurance than geldings ; but they were much more difficult 

 to manage, especially when on a march. Sometimes in the 

 night one horse would break loose and attack his neighbours, 

 who in self-defence would use their utmost endeavours, and 

 often successfully, to break loose also. Many were thus often 

 injured by bites and kicks, and the rest of the whole camp 

 was disturbed. When crossing rivers in ferry-boats, although 

 each horse's head was held by a man, a free fight often 

 ensued, when some of the horses were kicked into the water 

 and were carried a long distance down stream before they 

 were recovered. 



In consequence of these and other inconveniences, a 

 cavalry regiment mounted on geldings was tried against one 

 mounted on entire horses in the Madras Presidency, both 

 being sent upon a march of six hundred miles. Although 

 many of the geldings had only been castrated a few weeks 

 before the march commenced, they were found at the end of 

 it to be in quite as good condition as the stallions. After this 

 trial the custom of castration became almost universal, at 

 least in the European regiments. 



It is, however, unnecessary with a large majority of the 

 Arabs which are ridden as chargers. When not in close 



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