CLIPPING OP TROOP HORSES 
BY 
MAJOR G. R. CHALLENOR* R.A. 
1. Why don’t we clip our troop horses ? This question is frequently 
asked* and the only answer to it* of course* is a because it is not sanc¬ 
tioned by Regulations.” But why should it not be sanctioned ? In 
India the practice for many years has been a recognised one* and 
Government supply the necessary blankets and clipping machines* and 
any officer who has ever served in that country will be able to testify 
to the universal benefit which it affords to both men and horses. 
2. All officers of mounted corps are fully alive to the fact that an 
immense amount of time is spent in stables trying to get the thick* 
rough coats of horses dry after a long* wet march* or heavy field day* 
and how the men have to slave to get their work done* and the harness 
and appointments much to their detriment have to be left untouched 
until this work has been done. 
3. During the last two winters I had the good fortune to be quar¬ 
tered at Aldershot* and* permission having been granted me* I clipped 
the horses of my battery all over* and provided them with blankets* the 
same plan being adopted by the Horse batteries there. With what 
success* it is needless to say. The result spoke for itself* and although 
the winters in severity were rather above the average* and there was 
much sickness about (principally influenza)* throughout the whole time 
there were not two horses on the sick list from colds or other causes 
which could have been induced or brought on by clipping. But what 
a saving it was to the men! We would come in from a long morn¬ 
ing’s work* and go straight into stables until the mens’ dinners were 
ready* by which time the grooming was generally completed* thus 
leaving the afternoon free for the cleaning of harness and appoint¬ 
ments* while the other two batteries of the Brigade Division (the 
horses of which were not clipped)* had to turn down again after dinner 
to finish their horses* many of which* at the conclusion of the evening 
stable hour* were still so wet that gun blankets had to be placed over 
them to prevent their getting chills. 
