the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

IN THE FIELD
When this kind of soldiering is in evidence there is as a rule a
screw loose somewhere in the assemblage of the battalion
commander.
It might be of value to make a few remarks about the
feeding of hay on wet and on windy days. Neglect of the
conservation of hay at any time is soon made evident by the
tucked up flanks of the animals but neglect of its management
in wet or in windy weather causes them to really suffer.
Horses will not lie down in wet weather unless very tired
but will stand persistently and sleep in the standing position.
Therefore they are not sufficiently rested for the following
day's march and if a portion of the hay ration is lost to them
they suffer from hunger as well as from the fatigue of
continuous standing. On wet days the hay ration should be
offered in small quantities in order to save it from being
trampled underfoot. The detailing of men armed with rakes to
keep the hay on the line in place is of little avail for it must be
remembered that horses will refuse wet hay unless they are
very hungry. This part of the forage should be offered by the
drivers in bundles of two or three pounds at intervals of about
one hour—it takes about twenty minutes for a horse to
consume one pound of hay—and it should all be consumed
before dark so that little of it is lost.
On windy days much of the hay is blown away. Here again it
should be offered in small bundles. Some careful drivers have
been observed to place the hay in open sacks and hang these in
front of the pair; this is a good scheme but the holding of it in
wide meshed nets would be still better. There is a tendency
among a certain class of men to rob the picket line of hay for use
as bedding for themselves. It would be well to bear this in mind
when untrained men are taken on the march for the first time.
In the field animals should have plenty of water and all of
their forage. By getting all of their forage is meant that there
should be strict supervision over the morning feeding of
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