Army Horses

HC Deb 15 May 2002 vol 385 cc642-3W

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's policy is on the tethering of horses; and if he will make a statement. [55877]

Dr. Moonie

The tethering or 'picketing' of horses is the military method of tying horses to a rope or peg in the open in order to prevent injury. The recommended method is to use a single long rope, stretched along the ground, or preferably suspended 3 to 4 ft high, to which each horse is separately tied with a head rope. Heel ropes tied to pegs may also be used in order to prevent a horse kicking the next horse. Details of the preferred methods to he used are laid out in the "Manual of Horsemanship, Equitation and Animal Transport" (WO Code 7193, 1937) and "Animal Management" (HMSO 1956).