Horse sand muzzle : British (and Australian) mounted and transport units in Egypt and Palestine

Sand muzzle constructed from 5 mm thick brown leather. The body of the muzzle is cut from two slightly flared pieces of leather stitched together down each side. The base of the muzzle, made from blocked leather (smooth side out), has been cut in a rough circle, the edges turned up unevenly, and attached to the body with 24 rivets. The finished base is 185 mm long and 175 mm wide. The dimensions of the top of the body are approximately 260 mm long and 210 mm wide. Two 50 mm diameter ventilation holes for the horse are cut into the front of the body, 60 mm apart and 70 mm from the base to the bottom of each hole.

The muzzle is secured to the horse's head by a single 25 mm wide leather strap. The left (near) side of the muzzle carries a 235 mm long strap ending with a nickel plated buckle with two keepers. The bottom 80 mm of this strap is secured to the body of the muzzle, over the left (near)side stitching line, with two rivets. The right (off) side of the muzzle carries a 1175 mm long strap that secures to the buckled end, and can be adjusted for size using the seven punched holes on the free end. The bottom 80 mm of this strap is secured to the body of the muzzle, over the right (off) side stitching line, with two rivets.

There are no recognisable manufacturer's marks on the muzzle. A partially legible stamp on the free end of the longer head strap appears to read: 'H C? R.17'.

British issue sand muzzle acquired by the Australian War Records Section in Palestine in 1918 or 1919. The muzzles were designed to combat sand colic, a condition caused by the ingestion of sand or soil which settled in a horse's gut and caused either a major digestive upset which was not easily relieved, or a twisted bowel due to the horse rolling violently to relieve discomfort and pain. The latter condition was invariably fatal at the time.

Sand muzzles were worn in the lines, or while resting in the field, by horses who had a tendency to seek additional scraps of forage on sandy or bare ground, especially when feed was in short supply. Horses with a known tendency to do this were issued with sand muzzles that allowed them to breath, but restricted their ability to forage. On the march or in action the muzzle was carried at the base of the horse's neck, secured by the head strap.