The Museum of the 112th Bashkir Cavalry Division houses a metal scraper for horse grooming.

The duties of a horse caretaker in a cavalry unit were performed by two cavalrymen. Every morning the horses were groomed. It was especially necessary to remove dirt and loose hair in places where accoutrements touched the skin.

Daily grooming of horses improves their health. The glands pump out sweat and excess grease, which remain on the surface of the skin and in the coat. They form a layer that makes it difficult for the sweat to evaporate and prevents the skin from breathing. Therefore, it is essential to remove the dirt with a brush and a scraper.

Metal scrapers come in two types: the ones for grooming the horses, which have shorter teeth, and for cleaning the brushes. Metal scrapers are especially useful during shedding seasons. They carefully remove loose hair from the horse’s body. In addition, they are used to clean the brushes, which can easily get clogged with dust.

During the war, the horse caretaker took the horses from the riders and led them to a safe place, hidden from the enemy. They never strayed far from the artillery battery, so that in case of an attack they could bring the horses to the soldiers in time.

According to the military regulations of the time, one groomer looked after three or four horses. In practice, however, each groomer had five or six, sometimes even eight horses, to care for. If another soldier was needed, one of the horse caretakers was sent to the battlefield, and the rest had to take care of an increased number of horses.