230 SUPPLY OF HORSES ADAPTED TO THE ENGLISH ARMY. 
cate the amount of strain vvhich would be put on our resources 
in the event of war. 
In ordinary times the proportion drafted from the service 
is a little under 13 per cent., or about 1500, a number which 
bears a very small proportion to the whole supply bred for 
the English market. Of these 13 per cent, a little over 11 
per cent, are caU and sold, the deaths from accidents and in¬ 
curable diseases being less than 1 per cent., and those resulting 
from curable diseases of a like amount.* 
For these favorable results we are indebted, in the first 
instance, to the vigilance and practical skill of His Royal 
Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, who 
expects every, branch of the service to be always ready,” 
and at once detects any defect, whilst he so encourages and 
supports every zealous officer as to make the performance of 
duty a real pleasure. 
In the second place, these results are due to the exertions 
of all the officers and men of the various regiments, who con¬ 
stantly vie with one another in the practical application of 
the best means of keeping horses in health. These means 
are so correctly appreciated in the army, and are so few and 
so simple, that they can be easily carried cut. Good oats, 10 
lbs. per diem; hay, 12 lbs.; straw, 8 lbs.; water, ad lib.; 
exercise ; surface drains ; clean stables, dry litter floors, and 
proper ventilation. The system of ventilation is threefold : 
—1st. Ground ventilation—for drying the floors; 2ndly, 
ceiling ventilation—for the egress of vitiated air; and lastly, 
but not least, respiratory ventilation—for the supply of fresh 
air under the horse’s nose ; all these ends being accomplished 
without the creation of strong currents. It will easily be 
seen that our principles of stable management are founded on 
common sense. 
These results contrast very favorably wdth the comparative 
military statistics of our neighbours the French. They 
muster an effective force of about 41,793 horses of all arms of 
their service, and the average of deaths is 8^ per cent, 
(instead of about IJ), namely—5 per cent, from glanders and 
farcy, and 3| per cent, from accidents and wdiat w'e have 
* In the chapter of accidents, the following are noteworthy;—A short time 
ago a man in a leading charging squadron had his lancc wrested out of his 
hand, so that it fell upon its butt, and pointed backwards. A horse in the 
succeeding squadron caught the point on his breast, and so completely im¬ 
paled himself on it that it came out close to his tail. Again, the other day 
two horses, whilst at drill, approaching each other from opposite directions, 
came into collision, and the combined force was so great as to fracture the 
skull of one and break the back of the other. The horses could not fail to 
foresee the shock, and, but for their doeilit}', might have avoided it. And 
yet we arc expected to doubt tlic power of cavalry to break a square of 
infantry! 
