The Horse in Battle.

Manawatu Herald, 3 June 1899, Page 3

The Horse in Battle.

A veteran oavalry borso partakes of the hopes and fear 3of battle just the tame as his rider. As the column swings into line and waits, the horse grows nervous over the waiting. If the wait is spread out he will tremble and sweat, and grow apprehensive. If he ha 3 been six months in service he knows every btigfe call. As the call comes to advance the rider can feel him working at the bit with his tongue to get it between his teeth. As he move 9 out he will either seek to get on faster than he should or bolt. ! He cannot bolt, however. The lines will carry him forward, and after a^ minute he will grip, lay back bin ears and one can feel his sudden resolve to brave thff worse, and have done it as soon as possible. A man seldom cries out when hit in the turmoil of battle. It is the same with a horse. Five troopers out of six, when struck with a bullet are oat of their saddles within a minute , If hit in the breast or shoulder, up go their hands and they get a heavy fall ; if in the leg, or foot, or arm, they fall forward and roll off Even with a foot cut off by a jigged piece of shell, a horse will not drop. Ifc is only when shot through thft head or heart that it comes down. He may ba fatally wounded, but hobbles out of the fight to right or left, and stands with drooping head until the loss of blood brings him down. The horse that loses his rider and is unwonnded himself will continue to ran with his set of fours until some movement throws him out. Then he goes galloping here and there, neighing with fear and alarm, but he will not leave the field. In his racing about he may get among the dead and wounded, but he will (lodge them, if possible, and, in

any case, leap 6irer them. "When he has come upon three or four riderless steed?, they fall in and keep together as if for mutual protection and the " rally " of the bugle may .bring the whole of them into ranks in a body.