Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

Before embarkation the side-boards are removed, and replaced as each horse is placed in his stall.

Horses, in all cases, should stand athwart-ship; in this position they better accommodate themselves to the motion of the vessel. When on the upper deck, they should face inward; this for the reason that the spray will not strike them in their faces, and, besides, when facing each other in this manner they will suffer less from fright and nervous excitement.

All stalls, hitching-bars, or whatever other arrangement for securing horses, must be strong beyond any possibility of giving way. The living force exerted by a row of horses, as they swing with the motion of a ship in a heavy sea, is very great, and it is better to have no securing arrangements whatever than to have those that, by giving way, will wound and injure the animals in the wreck.

If the transport is to be used in very inclement weather, the spar-deck, over the horses, should be covered. Canvas stretched over a secure frame is better than boards, as the latter in a severe storm might be carried away, and its wreck would cause disaster among the horses.

During heavy weather horses sometimes become exhausted and fall. The best thing that can be done in such cases is to back out the horse on each side, so as to give the fallen horse plenty of room. The fallen horse should be protected from rain and spray by a paulin, and great care and tenderness exercised toward him; otherwise he is very liable to perish. The horses may be fed from nose-bags, but it is better to have for each one a small trough, suspended to the hitching-bar by means of two iron hooks passing over the bar. The troughs are moved out of the way when not in use. Hay can be fed by tying it up tightly in bundles with rope-yarn and fastening the bundles to the hitching-bar. It may also be fed in small quantities by hand, and the more attention the horses receive in this way from the men the less fretful and uneasy they become.

When the embarkation takes place from a wharf, and the vessel is not too high, it is best to use gang-planks and lead the horses on board. The gang-plank leading up from the wharf to the gunwale should be about 20 feet long by 10 wide, and be made very strong. This width admits of its being used for gun-carriages. It should be provided with ropes at the corners, rollers, side-rails, and boards upon the sides to prevent the horses from getting their feet over the edges. Another similar gang-plank, but not so long, leads from the gunwale to the deck, the two being securely fastened together by their ropes. These gang-planks should be carried by the vessel, ready for disembarking. Every provision for this latter operation should be thoroughly looked after before starting on the voyage.

When it is not practicable to use gang-planks, the horses are hoisted on board by means of a sling and lifting-tackle.

Horses should be kept without food and without water for several hours before being put on board, as they are liable to be injured if slung with full bellies; they will also become sooner reconciled to their new quarters, and take quicker to their feed on board, when these measures have been adopted.

Sling.—This is made of stout web, or double No. 1 canvas. It is 5 feet long and 2 feet wide, secured at each end by a stick of strong wood 2 inches in diameter. The sides are bound with strips of canvas doubled, thus making the edges four thicknesses. Loops of 4-inch rope are attached to each stick.