STABLE MANAGEMENT. 
429 
DISCUSSION. 
Lieut.-Colonel H. Pipon, R.H.A.—There are one or two things which 
Colonel Walters has mentioned on which I should like to make a few remarks. 
One is as regards the bedding down at mid-day. I think it is a most excellent 
plan, and I should like to see it introduced and carried out a great deal more 
than is done now. I always did it, and I always found that I had plenty of litter. 
With regard to watering and having a trustworthy non-commissioned officer to 
look after the watering of horses, I do not think there can be any more im¬ 
portant subject. It has only been in very rare cases that I could really 
depend upon others seeing the horses watered, and if some arrangement could be 
made in the stables, such as I had at Aldershot (I am sorry to speak personally 
so much), of a water trough running through the middle of the large stables 
there, and also half beer barrels full, it would be found to be an advantage in 
that respect. In the early morning particularly you cannot get the horses pro¬ 
perly watered ; it is impossible—it is not in human nature to expect men at that 
time in the morning, and a cold morning, to stand at the trough and see the 
horses properly watered. I introduced that system at Aldershot, and what was 
the consequence ? The horses walked about the stables by themselves and drank 
any amount; there was no kicking each other or anything of the kind. I never 
saw anything answer better. I think if anybody here went there to see for them¬ 
selves they would say the same thing with regard to the watering; but until we 
have some such system I do not think the watering in the stable in winter will be 
as satisfactory as officers would wish. 
Then about the feeding, Colonel Walters said the horses should be fed three 
times, but would he not suggest that horses should be fed oftener than three 
times ? And I think there is another important thing about feeding, and that is 
that when horses are fed the stables should be locked up and nobody should be 
near them. All the horses feed at the same time, and you know how fidgety some 
horses are when they are being watched, how they keep on pawing and throw the 
food about and all that sort of thing. I should myself suggest that a stableman 
is not necessary for the feeding. I would lock the stable up for an hour, and 
allow no man to go inside while the horse had his corn and hay: I am sure the 
horse likes to be left alone to feed. 
Then, is Colonel Walters an advocate for washing the feet ? He mentioned the 
great care that it required. Are we able to have the necessary supervision of the 
drying of the feet with a towel P I should have thought that picking out was better, 
and I should like to have Colonel Walters’ opinion about it; and also whether he 
does not think that if a horse is groomed once well in the middle of the day it 
is quite sufficient, or does he consider that the wisping in the evening is necessary 
to ensure the horse looking well. 
I was glad to hear what Colonel Walters said about the washing; I was rather 
afraid he was going to say that he did not care about washing white heels, be¬ 
cause he first of all said that he did not approve of washing heels, but afterwards 
said that he would wash white heels. And I am very glad he has mentioned the 
subject of clipping. I know it is a thing that is against the “ Queen’s Regula¬ 
tions,” and so one has to be careful what one says about it. I am afraid I have 
done it against the “ Queen’s Regulations,” and I must say that I did not find a 
blanket in the least necessary for the care of the horses. I did it for the last three 
years that I was Major ; I had no blanket, and I never had any trouble whatever, 
beyond, as I have said, that you cannot take horses out in the early morning in 
the cold and expect to water them out there and keep them well. But the few 
horses that have, unfortunately, been clipped here have certainly thriven remark¬ 
ably. I am told by the officers commanding the batteries how they have gained 
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