227 
CLIPPING BATTERY HORSES. 
BY 
MAJOR A. H. C. PHILLPOTTS, R.A. 
Major Challenor in his article in the R.A.I. “ Proceedings ” for 
December last advances a large number of reasons why our troop 
horses at home should be clipped all over during the winter months. 
I will not deny that there is something to be said in favour of clip¬ 
pings but, on the other hand, there is much to be said against it and, 
in my opinion, there are great and very serious objections to the prac¬ 
tice. 
To commence with. Major Challenor cites India as an example where 
horses are invariably clipped all over, but a moment's consideration 
will remind us that the conditions obtaining in that country are vastly 
different to those in a temperate climate. 
In many parts of India, the heat during the day, even in the “ cold ” 
weather is considerable, and the practice camps, camps of exercise, and 
changes of station and all hard work take place during that season 
when the Australian horse carries a long coat, and the removal of it is 
often almost a necessity. 
At home, the conditions are quite different, the temperature during 
the winter is always such that when out of his stable the horse, except 
when actually being ridden or driven hard, must require the natural 
warmth supplied by his winter coat. 
It is impossible and undesirable that horses and men should not 
sometimes be kept standing in the cold even after fast work and then 
if the horse has been deprived of his natural covering he is bound to 
suffer. He shivers, gets tucked up and looks generally miserable. 
He would eventually lose condition and probably end in contracting 
some catarrhal affection. 
The possibility of our troops being ordered out on service or in aid 
of the Civil power during the winter months does not to me seem such 
a very remote and unlikely contingency, and even did it never arise 
surely we ought always to be prepared to take the field. 
Then again I maintain that outpost duty, reconnaissance, and taking 
6. VOL. XXI. 
