MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OF 
288 
Minute of the General Commanding the Artillery in the 
1 2th Military Division. 
The horses with breast harness do not appear to have found the draught 
more heavy, or to have experienced more fatigue on the march than those 
with collars, and whenever similar conditions are met with to those in which 
the experimental battery found itself, marching on level or slightly undulating 
roads, the results obtained show that one could employ indifferently the 
breast strap or the collar, hut if great obstacles were to be overcome such as 
may be met with on a campaign, perhaps so powerful a draught could not be 
obtained with the breast strap as with the collar. 
WEAR AND TEAR TO HORSES. 
Regiment of Horse Artillery of the Guard . 
During a march of ten days' journey in a hilly country, the Commission 
has established that in going down hills, the neck stall does not at all 
fatigue the horses. In ascents the counter weight of the (gun) carriage is 
such that at the worst moments the hand can pass easily under the neck 
stall. 
During the experiments with siege equipment, the greatest attention was 
given to the fatigue experienced by the horses in ascents, and nothing could 
be discovered to the advantage of either system, although the exertions of 
the horses were very great. 
Regiment of Artillery. 
The horses returned to Grenoble in perfect condition, as well and as 
strong as before setting out, after traversing 309 kilos, of which 102 were 
at the trot. 
It has been proved that the Iricole interferes less with the breathing than 
the collar. 
1th Regiment of Artillery. 
The promenades, manoeuvres, and marches at which the Commission has 
been present, have not given results so decisive as to enable it to judge 
decisively of the influence of the two systems on the wear and tear of the 
horses. The Commission is nevertheless forced to avow that neither in 
ordinary conditions of draught nor during violent exertions has it remarked 
that the bricole interfered with the breathing or with movements of the 
shoulder^ as there was reason to fear. 
