Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

The loop attached to one stick is 9 inches long; that attached to the other is 2 feet 11 inches, and has an iron eye, 3 inches inside measurement, fixed in the end. Breast-and breech-ropes (2-inch), 9 feet long, are fixed to each side, and are tied together when the sling has been put under the horse. The slings should be tested by an excess of weight. A donkey-engine is used for hoisting.

Five men are required to sling a horse quickly and well. One man holds the head-guy, which is attached to a neck-collar; two men, one on each side of the horse, pass the sling under his belly; both then hold up the ends over his back, passing the long loop through the shorter one and hooking on the eye of the former to the lifting-tackle, continuing to hold up the sling until the horse's legs leave the ground; another man stands at the breast and fastens the breast-rope, while the fifth stands at his rump and fastens the breech-rope. The officer superintending commands: "Hoist away!" The first man slacks away at the guy-rope, holding it just sufficiently taut to keep the horse's head steady. When hoisting, no delay should be permitted; it should be done in the shortest time compatible with safety. At the commencement, after a certainty that all is right, it should be done rapidly, to raise the horse and free him from surrounding objects before he has time to do any injury by kicking. After attaining the necessary height, he is carefully and steadily lowered to the deck. Care should be taken to have two or three careful, active men stationed to seize the horse and prevent his plunging until the slings are removed. While one holds him by the head-stall another rapidly unhooks the tackle-purchase, and two others let loose the breech-and breast-bands or ropes. When the horses are to be lowered through a hatch to a deck below, the combings of the hatch as well as stanchions about it should be well padded. As an additional precaution, a head-collar should be provided, with a large pad on top, to prevent injury should the horse strike his head against the deck-beams when lighting on his feet.

To ascertain the number of horse-stalls that can be constructed on any deck, first mark off a space of three feet all around the ship's side for a passage to be kept clear behind the stalls, and a similar width alongside all hatchways or other obstructions; then divide the running length of the space left by 28 inches; this will give the number of stalls in each row. When the clear width of beam between the inner sides of any deck is 36 feet or more, three rows of stalls may be constructed, the passage between the rows where the horses are to stand head to head being not less than 6 feet, and between those that stand tail to tail not less than 54 inches. Horses should not be placed near boilers, etc., as the heat is liable to make them sick.

There must be ten per cent of spare stalls, and there must also be at least one loose box, constructed near a hatchway, to admit of a sick horse lying down. Each stall is numbered, the side-boards, breast-boards, mangers, etc., being marked with the number of the stall to which they belong.

For some hours before sailing hay should not be given at all; otherwise, if the horses are seasick, it will remain undigested in the stomach, and possibly cause colic or blind staggers.

CARE OF HORSES AT SEA.

For the first few days on shipboard food is to be given rather sparingly, and bran is to form a large portion of it; but after the horse becomes accustomed to his new situation, and his appetite increases, he should be more liberally fed. A bran mash, or oats and bran mixed, is to be given to him every other day.

The spare stalls admit of the horses being shifted, rubbed down, their feet washed, and the stalls cleaned out every day that the weather permits. Hand-rubbing the legs is of the greatest consequence to the comfort and well-being of the horse, and is to be practised, if possible, every day or whenever the horses change stalls.

Horses are to be slung in smooth weather, and allowed to stand on their legs in rough and stormy weather. In smooth weather they will rest their legs and feet by throwing their whole weight into the slings. To sling a horse in rough weather, whereby he is taken off his feet, would only have the effect of knocking him about with the roll of the ship. Horses standing accommodate themselves to the motion of the vessel. They are not to be placed in the horse-hammock until they have been at sea for a week, as some would only be made uneasy by the attempt to do so.

The hammock is to be placed around the centre of the horse's belly, and then the breast-band and breeching fastened to the required length and degree of tightness. When everything is in readiness, and not before, the horse is quickly raised until all, or nearly all, of his weight is off his legs. He will very soon learn the relief the hammock affords him, and will not be slow in availing himself of it by throwing his weight into it. With some horses it is necessary to use great quickness in making the ropes fast before they throw their whole weight into the hammock.