24 INDIAN TROOP HORSES IN STABLES AND ON THE LINE OF MARCH. 
Where, therefore, man has taken the animal out of its own sphere 
he must make up for its defects by artificial means. 
Changing from a dry country to a wet one will not be unattended 
naturally by disease. Many bad feet are caused by too free use of the 
rasp over the outside of the hoof after shoeing. Like the human nail 
a horse’s hoof has a coat of enamel over it which nature put there to 
confine the moisture. If therefore, this is removed, it stands to reason 
that the moisture escapes, the hoofs become brittle and chip away. 
A remedy for this is a mild blister over the coronet to stimulate the 
growth of the horn, well grease the hoofs daily, and learn wisdom by 
your mistake in touching the outside of the hoof with the rasp at all, 
except just to flatten the clamps of the nails. 
OCTOBER. 
The rains have pretty well ceased now, the air is cooling, and the 
winter’s work coming on. ‘The drill ground is open, and the Com- 
manding Officer’s “innings” at his command begins. 
The feeds of the horses may now go back to the regulation 10 lbs., - 
divided into proportions of 7 lbs. gram and 3 lbs. bran. Itis customary 
sometimes to give more of the former, but I have found it a mistake 
with the majority of horses. Gram has many heating qualities in it, 
and a too free use of it puts a horse’s liverwrong. If you do want to 
give him much corn let him have oats, with bran and a few hands-full 
of gram in each feed. Don’t work too fast at first. They have not had 
it for some months, remember, and require hardening gradually. Tails 
may now be cut, but as regards Curppine, there is much to be said. 
Anyhow, don’t do it until November. The coats are then set, and 
postponing it until this will save you a lot of trouble. 
Clipped horses look smart and are easier to clean, hence the universal 
desire on the part of every driver to get his pair done. Pages could 
be filled with the reasons put forward on occasions for this end. 
Clipping at all depends, or ought to do so, on what they are going to 
do. To clip a horse all over and then ask him to stand out at practice 
camps where the cold is intense with insufficient clothing is very hard 
usage to the poor beast. Under such conditions clipping trace-high, 
with the hair left on the legs, would be far more merciful and service- 
able and if neatly done, looks equally smart. 
Your animals now, with the treatment that has been put forward, 
will have in a fortnight’s time of steady drill, a good solid body of 
sound material in them, viz., muscles and reliable flesh—and you may 
work away without fear. 
F'epina. 
Always give your horses something before they leave the lines in the 
morning. ‘The amount must depend upon the work they are going to 
do. Ifa field-day is in prospect, increase the feed, and never go with- 
out some more in the nose-bags. Much, however, must depend upon 
the time you leave barracks. The “Gram Orderly” system is nota 
sound one, and is open to many objections. In the first place a 
sergeant must cease in many ways to take interest in horses that are 
fed for him. 
