CAKE OF THE TROOP HORSE. 
601 
grasp this, and to think that all horses should be round, I have several 
times felt inclined to point out to a somewhat thin inspecting officer, 
who I have heard make that remark, that, although a good trencher¬ 
man himself, he did but little credit to his food. 
On the quality of the hay and grass as much depends as on the 
quality of the corn, however much corn a horse gets, he must have 
good hay to keep in condition. All officers should study a little the 
different grasses, both at home and in India, and should endeavour 
never to pass in any that is really bad. Most indifferent stuff is con¬ 
stantly brought up to be passed at home. 
I think we are far too careless, as a rule, about hay and grass. In 
India, where green grass is issued or supplied, it should be dried for a 
day before being given, and for two or three hours before it is weighed 
in; 100 lbs. of green grass will, when dry, not weigh 35 lbs. 
Lowland grass is very bad for horses and should, if possible, not be 
taken. In India doub grass is the best of all grasses if not collected 
from dirty nullahs, as it often is in the hot weather. The grass farms 
in India have of late years begun to supply excellent hay. 
Black oats, of an equal weight with white ones are far superior, the husk Oats, 
is much thinner and they grind a very great deal more meal, a black oat 
of 40 lbs. the bushel is better than a white oat at 43 lbs. I have known 
officers, from ignorance, refuse black oats often. Ask the livery stable¬ 
men, and coaching men what they think of good black English and 
Riga oats ? A team of horses fed on black oats will kill a team fed on 
white ones of equal weight, if it comes to hard work ; still white oats 
are more fashionable, from the colour I suppose. Indian oats are very 
light, but are good feeding, I once fed my whole battery on them for 
three months, and the horses improved a great deal. 
All horses should have a bran mash once a week at least, the bran Bran mash, 
should be scalded in a bucket, with a cover on the bucket, for a quarter- 
of-an-hour, a very little boiling water is necessary; if you can manage 
it, add a little boiled linseed for your thin ones. Bran mashes are 
generally made in stable barrows with cold water. Never send a horse 
out on a long day on an empty stomach, horses are naturally very empty 
in the morning, nothing will knock them up quicker; try it yourself. 
A half feed of 2 lbs. of corn in the morning will keep them going, as a 
cup of tea and a biscuit keeps a soldier going. In India, remember, 
that unless officers, N.-C.Q/s and men are not all very careful, the horse 
will probably get but half his ration at most, and the rest of it will go, 
probably, to the cowmen in the nearest village. Syces are so badly paid 
that but few can be trusted, and really owing to the very extensive 
system of bribery and corruption in India it is hard to trust anyone. 
You cannot be too careful in checking weights, weighing all yourself, 
and measuring horses feeds. When once issued to troop-stables and 
the sergeants and Nos. 1 have seen the corn weighed, it should be kept 
under lock and key, and the men should not leave stables until the 
feeds are eaten. 
Watering is but too often hurriedly carried out, especially in very Watering, 
cold weather at home and very hot weather in India. A good and 
copious supply of water is almost a greater help to condition than good 
