PRACTICAL HINTS ON STABLE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 309 
the other, so as to prevent it from slipping back off the neck 
and shoulders, and in this way render each more efficient. 
The native-made blankets are of two kinds—grey and black ; 
the former is the closer, heavier, and better blanket of the two. 
Grey .—The grey blanket weighs from 6£ lbs. to 8 lbs., is 
14 ft. 6 in. in length, and 5 ft. 10 in. wide. 
Black .—The black weighs about 6 lbs., is 14 ft. 2 in. long, 
and 6 ft. 4 in. wide. 
A third blanket is, or should be, allowed when horses are out 
in camp. There should also be a lighter blanket for summer 
wear. 
With reference to the use of clothing for the protection of 
animals from chills and colds, there is one evil connected with it 
that has its origin and flourishes in India, viz. the custom of 
stripping horses hours before the morning air has become warm, 
and leaving them to stand and shiver in the cold. 
For instance, the horse has been warmly clothed, and so far 
comfortable during the night, but at break of day or, on awak¬ 
ing, let the morning be never so cold, the syce will, if left to his 
own devices, strip the poor horse, wrap himself in the blanket, and 
sit down before an impromptu fire of bedding, straw, or leaves, 
for a smoke, prior to further stable operations. This practice 
should not be permitted, for through it the health of the horse 
is very liable to suffer serious derangement. I should like 
to hear that an order had been issued for troop horses, when har¬ 
nessed, to have a blanket thrown over them till ready to march 
during the cold weather, should the hour for marching be fixed 
prior to sunrise, as allowing them to stand uncovered for some 
time on parade will be equally liable to be productive of serious 
mischief. This arrangement would involve a little extra trouble, 
but the result would repay that in due course, by helping to 
keep the horses in health. 
Again, it is the custom to leave horses without clothing at 
night much too early in each year. This I hold to be a mistake, 
as though the day may be hot, the night will be chilly, and 
continue so till sunrise, sometimes up to the end of May; and 
these sudden ranges of temperature are always liable to have a 
deleterious effect on animals, for which reason one blanket at 
least should be available at all times throughout the year, so that 
it may be thrown over the horse immediately any perceptible 
lowering of the temperature occurs during the day or night (and 
especially in the rainy season), and should be allowed to remain 
till the temperature rises again, unless the animals sweats too 
profusely under it. 
Bandages , flannel ; bedding .—For giving warmth to the legs 
flannel bandages are also very useful, and we must not omit to 
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