Captain Matthew Horace Hayes

About the name. On the title page of his publications and elsewhere his name is generally recorded as M. Horace Hayes. In the death notice published in the Melbourne, Australia, newspaper, The Argus, Matthew Horace Hayes was described as late Captain 1st Batt. 3rd Buffs, second and youngest son of the late Horace Townsend Hayes, Rochelle, and grandson of the late George Roche Hayes, Castleview, Co. Cork, Ireland. The notice, which appeared in several other Melbourne papers, must have been placed by his step-brother George Horace Hayes. In his book Among men and horses he says he had a stepbrother who went to Australia. There is a Victorian Death registration index record for Geo Horace Hayes, father Horace Townsend Hayes, mother Unknown Williamson, died Caulfield, Melbourne, aged 80, No. 1045 of 1912. The Royal Artillery records of officers' services, records Horace was born in Kilkully [ie Kilcully], County Cork, Ireland, 22 January 1842.

Father Horace Townsend Hayes' first wife died in 1834; he remarried in 1836, marrying Eliza, daughter of Mr. Matthew Jamieson, of Cork.

Cork Examiner 26 January 1842, p. 2.

Births. On 23d inst., at Kilcully, the Lady of Horace Hayes Esq. of a son.

Several of Horace's books contain a great deal of autobiographical information: Among men and horses covers his life from his early days in County Cork in Ireland to around 1894 when the book was published. Indian racing reminiscences, covers in more detail the 14 years in India, commencing with leaving Britain in 1867 on the Dilbhur as a young Lieutenant, to when he resigned his commission in 1879 to return to Britain. Among horses in South Africa is a detailed description of the South African tour he and second wife Alice undertook in 1891-92, while Among horses in Russia records their activities from 1896-1899 and the visits to Russia to help the Russian army with their horses.

From these and other sources the following is a summary of Horace's life.

Horace was born in Kilcully, county Cork, Ireland. His father owned flour mills, his mother was a Scotch woman, and he had a stepbrother who went to Australia and a sister. During the famine of 1847-48 his parents had wooden sheds constructed in the grounds for the starving and fever stricken and they and their servants tended and fed them and he saw death everywhere. Horace spent a year on the continent learning gymnastics, fencing, French and German, then worked hard to gain admission to the Royal Military Academy, and succeeded in obtaining a commission to the "gunners", the Royal Artillery. He served three years as a cadet in Woolwich, then went to India as a Lieutenant.

Saunders's News-Letter 7 February 1863, p. 2

In a listing announcing various military appointments, dated 6 February 1863: Royal Artillery: ...The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets to be Lieutenants: ... Matthew Horace Hayes ...

Horace's Royal Artillery record records his first period of service in India was from 10 September 1863 to 22 May 1866. Horace married Caroline Cardow, a widow, father William Hakein on 13 January 1866 at Cannanore, India. Horace then returned to Britain later in 1866.

An article in the Irish newspaper, Northern Whig, 15 March 1913, p. 3 by H.G. McKinney, telling the story of the Bann Rowing Club, records that a young officer of the Royal Artillery named Hayes had been ordered to take a long period of sick leave from India. He had returned to Cork, to restore his health and had been so successful that before his leave had expired he undertook the self imposed task of bringing the Glenbrook Rowing Club of Cork up to a high standard of proficiency. The author notes that Hayes later became better known as Captain Horace Hayes, who was the author of a number of books on horses and horse management and who had won more prizes at athletic sports while a cadet at the Royal Military College at Woolwich, than any of his predecessors. In 1867 Hayes organised a big eight oar rowing event at the Glenbrook club open to all comers, which attracted boats from all the major clubs across Ireland. The relatively unknown Bann Rowing club from Coleraine won the event. The club had been established by a former member of the Dublin University Rowing Club who had disagreed with the crew selections by the club committee and told them he would form his own club and beat them and the rest of Ireland. The author had received a first hand account of the race as in 1869 he had been stationed at a hill station north of the Punjab and Horace had visited the station a couple of times and told him the story.

While back in Ireland, Horace joined the Freemasons.

The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland register for Lodge No. 8, Cork, for Mathew Horace Hayes, admitted as member 10 August 1867. Normally there is a date difference between each stage, from Apprentice to Journeyman to Master Mason, however in the register Horace has the same date for each event.

Wife Caroline's 1886 divorce action records she had remained in India when Horace returned to Ireland.

Horace sailed for India in late 1867 on the chartered troop ship Dilbhur, being in charge of a group of Royal Artillery recruits, to commence a second tour of India. While in India he served first in the Royal Artillery, then transferred to the Bengal Staff Corps, before finally transferring to the 3rd Regiment of Foot, commonly called The Buffs. His book Indian racing reminiscences describes his life in India and the people he met. He resigned his commission in 1879 and returning to England in 1880.

Cork Constitution 2 October 1871, p. 4.

In an article reporting from the India Office dated 28 September 1871 changes in appointments: Bengal Staff Corps: ... To be Lieutenants: Matthew Horace Hayes, Royal Artillery; ...

Cork Constitution 21 October 1872, p. 4

In an article recording on changes to military appointments included a list of officers who had passed exams at Fort William on 5 August: ... High Proficiency in Hindee - Lieut. Matthew Horace Hayes, 35th Native Infantry, Persian under clause viii. ; ...

During this second tour he returned to Britain around 1876 to study at the New Veterinary College, Edinburgh.

His father died in August 1873 in Ireland and his mother Elizabeth in May 1876 in Ireland. In her will 90% of her estate went to his sister Elizabeth and only 10% of the estate to Horace, as his mother considered he was well provided for through his army position.

Times of India, 8 November 1879, reported Captain M H Hayes and Mrs Hayes, departing Bombay on the troopship HMS Euphrates, on 8 November 1879 for England. [it is not known who the Mrs Hayes was as wife Caroline’s divorce application of 1886 stated he had ceased co-habiting with her shortly after their marrriage in 1866.]

Morning Post 17 December 1879, p. 3

A listing of announcements from the London Gazette includes

War Office, Pall-Mall, December 14. ... 3rd Foot - Captain Matthew Horace Hayes retires from the service, receiving a gratuity ; ...

Once back in Britain, 39 year old Horace met 19 year old Alice Pyett, with Alice recorded as Alice Hayes, married to Horace, in the 1881 census and living in London. Wife Caroline did not apply for a divorce until 1886 and in her divorce application she claimed he lived with another woman, they passing as Captain and Mrs, Hayes, in 1880 and also last spring. In the census he records his occupation as sporting writer, though he also helped to set up a horse buying and selling business, wrote and published his third book Riding on the flat and across country, worked for a school preparing students for military college, and returned to Edinburgh to complete his veterinary qualifications. Based on the 1901 census where Alice is listed, the books written by Alice and other sources, it is speculated that Horace and Alice had a son, James, born in Edinburgh between 1882-1883, though no birth registration record has been found.

The Scotsman - Thursday 29 September 1881, p. 2

MILITIA COMPETITIVE In Edinburgh, Captain M . HORACE HAYES, R. A. receives Three BOARDERS into his house, and gives special and individual instruction to a few Non-Resident PUPILS . Terms, and a list of successes witb pupils, sent on application to ORELLANA & Co., 32A George Street, Hanover Square, London, W.

Horace was definately in Edinburgh in February 1882, as the Daily Review (Edinburgh) - Saturday 11 February 1882, p. 3. reported Horace had been the guest speaker at the annual meeting and dinner of the Scottish Metropolitan Veterinary Medical Society, held the previous Wednesday in the London Hotel, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, where Horace read a paper on " The Feeding of Horses ", and it was agreed to publish the paper. Other newspaper accounts of the meeting record his affilliation as of the New Veterinary College, Edinburgh.

The Scotsman - Tuesday 25 April 1882, p1

MILITIA ARMY COMPRETlTIVE — CAPTAIN HAYES (Late Royal Artillery) has formed a class for above examination. Will spend Summer Months at Sea Side on East Coast, England. For terms, &c., apply to CAPTAIN HAYES, 19 London Street, Edinburgh.

The Scotsman - Wednesday 03 May 1882, p. 1

MILITIA ARMY COMPETITIVE - CAPTAIN HAYES ( Late R. A. ) prepares tor above. One of Captain HAYES' Two Pupils who went up for last Examination passed 18th out of 276 Candidates. Address 19 LONDON STREET, EDINBURGH

In 1883 Horace graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the New Veterinary College Edinburgh.

North British Agriculturist - Wednesday 02 May 1883, p. 10

ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. At a meeting of the Board of Examiners of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, held in Edinburgh on the 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 25th ultimo, the following gentlemen from the New Veterinary College, Gayfield Square, passed their final examination, and were admitted members :— ... and Captain Hayes.

As well as authoring books, Horace was a regular correspondent to sporting papers, writing on visits to horse shows or on veterinary topics to do with horses. In the Illustrate Sporting and Dramatic News, as well as advertisements and reviews of his books, Horace placed advertisements for his veterinary services, so in 1884, Capt. M.H. Hayes, M.R.C.V.S, Veterinary Surgeon, can be consulted on all matters connected with horses at his rooms, 41 North Audley Street, W., London.

Army and Navy Gazette - Saturday 25 October 1884, p. 14.

Militia army competitive.— Captain HAYES, late R.A., PREPARES MILITIA SUBALTERNS for above Examination. During last four years he has passed more than half the number sent up.—Address, Junior Army and Navy Club, St. James’s Street, S.W.

Army and Navy Gazette - Saturday 08 November 1884, p. 15.

HINDUSTANEE TAUGHT by RETIRED OFFICER, Bengal Staff Corps. Has passed High Proficiency Examinations in both Hindi and Urdu at Calcutta. —Address, Captain HAYES, Junior Army and Navy Club, St. James’s Street, S.W.

After seeing a horse breaking exhibition on Derby Day 1885 (June 3, contemporary newspaper accounts record the weather was brilliant and the crowds enormous), he decided to go off to India to teach horse breaking, arriving at Bombay, touring through India and Burma before returning to England. In Alice's book The Horsewoman (1893 edition), Alice records that although she had previously ridden for some years in the ordinary way, her first introduction to difficult horses was in 1885 when she went out to India to join her husband, who had gone there a couple of months before her on a horsebreaking tour.

Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Friday 25 September, 1885, p. 3

An article dated Bombay, Sept. 20, reporting on the arrival of Lord William Beresford's English horses on the steamer California, also reported: Captain Horace Hayes has arrived in Bombay by the California; and is about to set to work here in his new business.

The Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) 3 October 1885, p. 5 records that Horace had returned to India and gave details of his success in Bombay with his system of calming horses so they could be ridden. The article also includes a testemonial from the owner of one of the horses that Horace had 'cured', that no one else had been able to saddle and ride. Newspaper articles continue to be published in 1886 reporting on Horace's horse training schools in different parts of India.

In 1886, first wife Caroline filed for divorce, on the grounds that Horace had separated himself from her and ceased cohabiting with her and committed adultery with some woman, name unknown, in India and England since shortly after their marriage in 1866. As Horace was in India, he did not attend the divorce proceedings in court and does not appear to have been represented.

Reynolds's Newspaper 14 August 1887, p. 8

A listing of divorce cases included:

Hayes v. Hayes - Mr Searle appeared for the petitioner, there was no defence. The parties were married on January 13 1866 at Madras, at which time the petitioner was a widow of an Indian Officer with four children, and the respondent was a Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery. They lived in India for six or seven months when the respondent had a serious illness, and was nursed by his wife. Eventually his was sent to this country invalided, and they parted on affectionate terms. It was arranged that as soon as he got better he would send for the petitioner. After a time the correspondence ceased on the part of the respondent, and subsequently Mrs. Hayes received a letter from the commanding officer of her husband's regiment to the effect that the respondent had applied to exchange from the presidency he was then serving to Bengal. She accordingly wrote to her husband to explain what this meant, and in reply he stated that he had made up his mind to exchange, that he was not fit for a married life, and that he did not intend to live with her again. In 1879 he retired from the army and commuted his pension. It appeared that in Marylebone-road he lived with another woman, they passing as Captain and Mrs, Hayes, in 1880 and also last spring. Consequently the petitioner sought to have the marriage dissolved by reason of the desertion and misconduct of her husband. In support of the case in respect of the identity, it was stated that the respondent, Lieutenant Matthew Horace Hayes was the author of a book on racing, and that his photograph, taken many years ago, was in the book, with his signature attached. Mr Justice Butt remarked that on the question of identity this was going further than usual in regards to photographs. Mr. Searle : We have both the photograph and the print of the photograph in the book on racing. The identity, however, was established in another way, and a degree nisi, with costs, was granted. .

In the autumn of 1887 Horace and Alice and presumably their young son travelling to Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt, Ceylon, Singapore and China. He records his wife Alice being injured by a pony in Tientsin, China, so they went back to Shanghai in June 1888 and sailed for Yokohama, Japan for a holiday. In Japan Alice proposing that instead of going to California or Australia they return to India and set up a sporting newspaper in Calcutta, which is what they did. After three years in India they deciding to do a horse breaking tour of South Africa, so they sold their house and newspaper and returned to England in mid 1891 and a few months later sailed for South Africa. The full details of the tour are recorded in "Among horses in South Africa". When they returned to Britain, Horace took Alice on a tour of Ireland.

Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) 1 February 1888, p. 7

There is no end to Horace Hayes' versatility. He has now turned up at Colombo with a variety entertainment, the troupe consisting of himself, Mrs. Hayes and a Mr Warden. As Horace has got beyond the elastic age of breakdowns, his part of the business probably consists of manipulating a gee-gee on the stage.

Bangalore Spectator - Tuesday 06 March 1888, p. 3

If the energy that leaves no stone unturned beneath which may lurk the oof bird meets with its well earned reward, Horace Hayes will in time be a milionaire. After having exploited all the Ceylon sportsmen who cared to become proficient in the Science of horse breaking, he devoted himself to the study of precious stones and mastered all mineralogical difficulties connected with that fascinating pursuit. Now he engaged in that old game, pearl fishing, which he is able to carry on vicariously owing to the success of a method of his own invention. The usual custom is to employ coolies to wash the oysters and search for pearls, but as the wretches swallow all they find, the resaults to their employers is nill. Horace, however, has provided himself with a stomach pump, a ton of tartar emetic, a patent basin with a series of sieves underneath it, and a hose for a free water-supply, and the coolie gang is daily subjected to disgorging drill with the happiest results—for Horace. Whem be has denuded the Ceylon fisheries of pearls, he intended coming on to India with a newly perfomed lecture, magic lanternly illustrated, and warranted to draw crowded houses. The sooner he comes the better, for we have six months of the long, long Indian summer days to get through without the enlivenment of racing.

Irish Examiner, Saturday, September 03, 1892; Page: 5 under the headline Success of a Corkman records that Horace was currently visiting Cork. The article describes Horace's achievements and the success of his just completed visit to South Africa. The article also talks about wife Alice and notes that Captain Hayes has the good fortune to have married a lady whose skill in dealing with horses, so far as the breaking of them is concerned, quite equals his own. " At the Cape," said Captain Hayes, with pardonable pride in the unique achievement "my wife did what no woman ever did, she tamed a zebra and rode it, and was photographed on the animal’s back."

After returning from Ireland they set up a horse riding school, joined hunts and helped old friend Sample with his horse breaking show with a person who went under the stage name of Leon. Alice wrote about the show in an Indian paper and Leon then sued for libel. They lost the case and Horace and Alice then traveled to Germany to perform horse breaking shows for the German army to pay the legal costs.

In the latter part of the 1890's Horace and Alice traveled to Russia on several occasions where Horace helped the Russian Imperial Army with their horses. With the outbreak of the Boer War in South Africa in 1899, Horace was engaged by the British Government to investigate the issues the Army was having with the loss rate for horses being transported to South Africa for war service.

During all this time, from 1874 to when he died in 1904, Horace continued to write new books and reissue new editions of previously published books.

Horace died in 1904.

List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery From the Year 1716-1900, p. 80.

Matthew Horace Hayes, Gentleman cadet - 25 July 1860; Lieutenant - 17 December 1862; transferred to Bengal Staff Corps - 29 September 1871.

London Daily News, 7 February 1863, p. 3.

A listing of military appointments "from last night's Gazette" includes Royal Artillery ... The undermentioned gentleman cadets to be Lieutenants: ... , Mathew Horace Hayes, ...

WO 76/370 British Army Regimental records of officers' services, record for Mathew Horace Hayes. Regiment: Royal Artillery. Date of Service: 1861 - 1871. Statement of service of M H Hayes, Lieutenant, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, born Kilkully [ie Kilcully], County Cork, Ireland, 22 January 1842, entered service 17 December 1862, aged 20 years 11 months. Served in India from 10 September 1863 to 22 May 1866. Married 13 January 1866 at Cannanore to Caroline Cardow.

London Daily News 09 November 1867, p. 2.

Departure of troops for India

The article reports the departure of the chartered troop-ship Dilbhur on 8 November 1867 from the Thames for India. The article details the officers and the number of troops, wives and children in each regiment shipped. Included is Lieutenant Matthew H Hayes, Royal Artillery.

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East, 1 March 1875, p. 10.

India Office, February 24. Substantive promotions, Bengal Staff Corps. ... To be Capts : Lieuts. ... Matthew Horace Hayes.

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service, 4 December 1878, p. 19.

War Office, Pall Mall, 29th November 1878. Where not otherwise specified, the following commissions bear date 30th November 1878. ... 3rd Foot- ... Captain Matthew Horace Hayes, from the Bengal Staff Corps, to be Captain, vice T.E. Spencer, who exchanges.

In his book Indian racing reminiscences, Horace notes (p. 266) that in the spring of 1879 he effected an exchange from the Bengal Staff Corps to the "Buffs" as he wanted to leave the service and return to England, as he was loosing his health in India. If he had remained in the Bengal Staff Corps he would not have been able to get a Captain's pension for many years, but by exchanging back into the Home Service he would get a good bonus on retiring.

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service, 17 December 1879, p. 22.

War Office, Pall Mall, 14 December 1879 - 3rd Foot - Captain Matthew Horace Hayes retires from the service receiving a gratuity.

British Library: Asian and African Studies record IOR/L/MIL/10/87 f.177, Hayes, Matthew Horace Bengal Staff Corps (India Office, Bengal Army, Bengal Army Officer record for Matthew Horace Hayes)

Indian Army & Civil List, 1873, Bengal 35th Native Infantry, Second Wing Subaltern, Lieut. M.H. Hayes, Staff Corps, 18 January 1870. Horace is also listed in the listing Staff Corps Lieutenants, Bengal. No. of old Cadre: R.A. [ie Royal Artillery]; date of present commission: 18 January 1870; date of first commission: 17 December 1862, remarks (assume current posting): 35 N. I.

Army List, August 1878, lists Captain M Horace Hayes, Bengal Staff Corps, having commenced 17 December 1874.

Hart's Army list for 1888 lists Matthew Horace Hayes, in the listing of Reserve of Officers, with gratuity from 3 Foot, Lieutenant 17 December 1862; Captain 17 December 1874.

In Horace's books he is recorded as 'Captain Horace Hayes of the Buffs'. The Buffs, or the 3rd Foot or the East Kent Regiment was one of Britain's oldest regiments, whose origins date back to 1572. Horace served first in the Royal Artillery, then the Bengal Staff Corps, and then around 1878 he joined the Buffs and served for about a year, before resigning his commission and returning to Britain in 1880. When he was enumerated in the 1881 England census in London, he gave his occupation as sporting writer.

Parish marriage registration index record for Matthew Horace Hayes, bachelor, 25 (born about 1841), Lieutenant, 20th Battery, father Horace Hayes, marrying Caroline Cardow, 38 (born about 1828), widow, father William Hake, on 13 January 1866 at Cannanore, Madras, India.

1881 England census - Horace Hayes, 36 (born about 1845), born Tipperary, Ireland, sporting writer. Also in the house: wife Alice M . Hayes, 19 (born about 1862), born Esher, Surrey, England.

Address - 168 Marylebone Rd, London, England. (In wife Caroline's 1886 divorce application, she thought husband Matthew Horace Hayes was living with a woman unknown at 178 Marybone road in 1881)

The Scotsman 29 September 1881, p 2.

block advertisement:

Militia Competency

In Edinburgh Capt. M. Horace Hayes, R.A., receives three boarders into his house and gives special and individual instruction to a few non resident pupils. Terms and a list of successes with pupils sent on application to Orellana & Co., 32A George Street, Hanover Square, London, W.

In the Design Registration record 6517, 9 March 1882, for a horseman’s knife to be called Captain Hayes’ Horseman’s Knife, the address is 19 London Street, Edinburgh, Scotland.

York Herald - Thursday 29 June 1882, p. 5.

Captain Hayes, late the Buffs, and well-known writer on the horse, has invented a horseman’s knife, which Is well deserving of attention. In addition to a stone-extractor and hoof-paring instrument, there is a punch with two ends, the one the usual size for stirrup-leathers, the other for rug-straps, &c. I do not remember a knife with a punch before this one, and yet how often does not every man who rides much want one! Of course, there is a corkscrew, and also a champagne opener. The punch took my fancy immensely.

Sporting Times - Saturday 15 July 1882, p.3

We have received the best knife we ever saw. It is the invention of Captain Hayes, the author of "Notes for Horse Owners.” and bears his name. In addition to a large and small blade, it contains a button hook, a combined stirrup and bridle punch, a combined champagne opener, hoof picker, and tin opener, and that invaluable article of luggage, a corkscrew. If we only knew where these knives were to be got we should advise our readers to invest strongly in them.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News - Saturday 22 July 1882, p.24

[block advertisment]

HORSEMAN'S KNIFE, (REGISTERED). Invented by CAPTAIN HAYES, The Author of "Riding," Veterinary Notes," &c. Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News:-- "Unquestionably the most perfect Horseman's Knife ever turned out Daily's Magazine.'-- "We can speak of it With high praise." Sporting Times:--" The best knife we ever saw." The Knife will be sent post free on receipt of P.O.O. for £1 by the manufacturer, Mr. Archibald Young, 58, North Bridge, Edinburgh. N.B.-Or by Messrs: W. Thacker and Co., 87, Newgate-street, London. In India by Thacker, Spink, and Co., Calcutta ; and Thacker and Co Limited, Bombay,

Madras Weekly Mail - Wednesday 10 February 1886, p. 24.

ILLNESS OF CAPTAIN HAYES. —We sincerely regret to have to announce that Captain Hayes has been forced to postpone for a fortnight his Calcutta class on horse-breaking owing to a painful tumour in the thigh due to a bite from a horse; an operation has, however, been most successfully performed at the General Hospital and the patient is not only doing capitally, but is in excellent spirits and hopes to be able to resume his interesting lectures in a very short time. Everyone will be glad to see the enterprising "Gentleman" himself again. We hope Hayes will, now that his unfortunate illness prevents his carrying on his lectures while the racing men are in Calcutta, make his first visit after his convalescence to Tirhoot, where he may be certain of a warm welcome from his numerous old frends, and a genial climate in which to recover tone in. The meet will be on just at the time he will be fit to move and he can combine a certain amount of business with what we know will be pleasure to him. He will well remember the last meet he was at there, when with all his knowledge of horseflesh, he very nearly dropped his coin.—I P.G.

Nottingham Journal, 16 June 1886, p. 8.

Captain Horace Hayes, a modern Rarey, and author of some excellent manuals on horsey subjects, has apparently quite given up taming private pupils, in favor of what he perhaps considers nobler animals. After giving various exhibitions of his system in Lower India, the gallant ex-Buff has climbed up to Simla, where he recently held a class in which Lord and Lady Dufferin and Sir Frederick and Lady Roberts attended.

In an 1887 letter sent by Horace to Frederick Smith (who later became the Army's Chief Veterinary Officer), now in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons archives, Horace is living at 178 Marylebone Road, London, N.W.

In late 1886, Horace's first wife Caroline filed for divorce while Horace was touring India. He did not appear at the court hearing and did not contest the divorce.

UK Divorce record for Caroline Hayes divorcing Matthew Horace Hayes. Application by Caroline filed 16 November 1886; Decree Nisi: 11 August 1887; Final Decree: 21 February 1888. In wife Carolyn's statement of 15 November 1886, on 13 January 1866, she (Caroline Cardew, widow), married Matthew Horace Hayes at Cannanore, Madras, India. In June or July 1866, husband Matthew separated himself from her and ceased cohabiting with her and committed adultery with some woman, name unknown, in India and England. She was informed that in 1880 and 1881, husband Matthew was cohabiting with a woman, name unknown, in localities in Cambridge, London, Suffolk and Edinburgh in Scotland; in 1884 and 1885 at an address in London; and since November 1885 in India. The divorce was granted in 1888 and Horace was ordered to pay Caroline £106 17s 9d.

Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Monday 27 August 1888, p. 7

A SPORTING JOURNAL. The first number of the Sporting paper which Captain Hayes is bringing out in Calcutta will appear on the 13th ultimo. It will be weekly, called "Hayes' Sporting News," and will have special reference to Horses and Sport. Particular attention will be devoted to Race Rporting and to Veterinary Matters, treated from a popular point of view. In the opening number will commence a series of articles on Captain Hayes' late tour, entitled " Among Ponies in China and Japan."

Information from Annie Ravenhill-Johnson, 28 November 2016.

Alice Pyett got away at 19 by marrying a much older man, Captain Horace Hayes of The Buffs. He is a very famous vet and wrote countless books on the subject. The Points of the Horse is still the definitive book on equine anatomy even today. It appears that Alice travelled with the regiment to India and visited China and the Arab countries. She wrote a book The Horsewoman by Mrs. Hayes in which she describes a divided riding skirt she has designed because ladies still rode sidesaddle. There's a photo of her riding a mountain zebra sidesaddle! She relates how she rode in the desert every day breaking in horses for Arab sheiks. In the UK she is a hero in the eyes of the Sidesaddle Riding Association.

From about 1885 to 1888, Horace and Alice travelled to Gibralter, Malta, India, Egypt, Ceylon, Singapore, the Straits Settlements, China and Japan, teaching and giving performances of Horace's horse breaking methods.

From wife Alice's book My leper friends (pub 1891) In the early summer of 1888 my husband and I found ourselves enjoying a well-earned holiday in Japan. He, I may explain, writes books about horses, which have rendered his name widely known among English readers ; and having a special talent for making these animals conform to his wishes, he conceived the idea of going on a tour, with the object of teaching all he knew about "breaking" to those interested in the subject. ... Knowing what a charm novelty had for my husband, and wishing to get back to India, I suggested the advisability of his going to Calcutta and starting there a sporting paper, which, with his name as editor, would be sure to draw ! My counsel proved so acceptable that I had only barely time to pack up my boxes and get them on board the French mail, for which my husband had taken tickets. We arrived at Calcutta, started our paper, and, in a short time, settled down to our work as journalists.

In Calcutta she visited the leper colony and was appalled by the conditions and campaigned for clean linen, showers and fresh fresh fruit. The British rajh press called her an hysterical woman but she won in the end. When they left India she handed her work to the St Vincent de Paul Association and wrote a book My Leper Friends with all proceeds to the leper colony. She and her husband wrote a sporting newspaper in India too. What a woman! I am so proud of her!

After three years in India, a circus show came to Calcutta from South Africa, and Horace and Alice were allowed to perform a zebra-breaking act in the show, using one of the circus's zebras. The owner told them stories of South Africa, and advised them to go there as the 'Africanders' had a love of horses and there were a large number of wild horses on the veldt. Horace writes in Among horses in South Africa that they were getting tired of India so decided to do a tour of South Africa.

They sold their newspaper, horses, furniture, said good bye to their friends and returned to London for a few months stay so Horace could bring out new editions of some of his books.

Not identified in the 1891 census, held 5 April 1891, so assume they returned to London after that date.

They left Southampton on Saturday 21 November 1891 for South Africa on the Dunnottar Castle.

Colonies and India - Saturday 28 November 1891, p29

DEPARTURES. - - Per Messrs. Donald Currie & Co.'. "Dunottar Castle" (Capt. J. C. Robinson), from London November 20 :- ... FOR CAPE TOWN.... Capt Hayes, Mrs Hayes, Master Hayes ...

They would spend about 7 months travelling through the Cape Colony, the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and Natal, giving lectures and conducting their horse breaking show. A full description of this tour is given in Horace's book Among horses in South Africa.

Among the stories Horace tells, is of the occasion when Alice rode a buck-jumping pony that had disposed of all the young men rash enough to try and ride him. Although the pony did his best, he could not dislodge Alice from her saddle. The Governor of the Cape Colony and the other members of Government House in attendance warmly applauded her. Horace notes that Alice's fine riding had made such a good impression that when they returned to England, the 1 February 1893 issue of the Cape Times noted that it was a revelation to even the boldest rough-riders that Mrs Hayes was able to ride round even the most diabolical animal with a light hand. Horace's standard charge was 2 guineas (1 guinea = one pound and one shilling (21 shillings)) per person to attend the horse breaking instruction show.

As well as the horse riding, Alice also sang. At a concert in Pretoria, the Pretoria Observer reported 'Mrs Hayes was most enthusiastically received, and her two songs formed the feature of the evening'. The returned to Britain on the Union SS Tartar.

UK, Incoming Passenger List record for Captain Hayes, 49 (born about 1843), horse trainer, and Mrs Hayes, 34 (born about 1858), leaving Natal on the Tartar, arriving Southampton 10 July 1892. There is a Master Hayes, 11 (born about 1881), boarding at Cape Town towards the bottom of the passenger list page, so it is speculated that James stayed in Cape Town, and boarded at a school, while his parents were on tour in South Africa.

In 1893 Alice and Horace were charged with libel over some articles Alice had written. Alice had visited a horse breaking show in London in 1892, given by George Sexton, a horse tamer, who went by the stage name of "Leon". Alice then wrote articles criticizing the show and Sexton's techniques. The libel action was due to Alice writing that she didn't think Leon had ridden a horse in his life and that he had told her he sometimes had to stick pins in the horses to make them kick and buck. These articles were published in the "Indian Planters Gazette and sporting news", published in Calcutta. Sexton claimed he had planned to visit India and the articles would prevent him from doing so. Although Alice had written the articles, the charge for libel was against Horace and Alice, even though Horace hadn't written anything. Horace had also visited the show, but when he went to give evidence on his opinion of the genuineness or not of the show, Justice Wright said such evidence was not admissible. The witnesses that were called were connected to the show and gave evidence that the performances of Sexton were genuine.

The jury gave the verdict to Sexton, who was awarded damages of £250.

St James's Gazette 30 June 1893, p. 7.

Alleged liable on a horse tamer

"Leon's" performances at the Aquarium

In the Queen's Bench division yesterday, Mr Justice Wright and a common jury had before them the case of Sexton v Hayes and wife. In this case George Sexton sought to recover damages against the defendants, Mr Horace Hayes, and Alice Hayes, his wife, for alleged libels published in the "Indian Planters Gazette and sporting news". The defendants denied the libel, and in the alternate pleaded that it was fair comment on a matter of public interest. Mr T.T. Fillan (with him Mr Candy Q.C.) appeared for the plaintiff, whose profession name is Leon and Mr Witt, Q.C. and Mr Moore represented the defendants. He is a horse tamer and in 1892 obtained an engagement to perform at the Royal Aquarium. The articles of which he alleged were criticisms of these performances, which, he stated, alleged he was deceiving the public, and that his exhibitions were discreditable and fraudulent. The plaintive, examined by Mr Fillan, said he performed in the name of Leon. There was not one syllable of truth in the articles of which he complained. Cross-examined, the witness said when he performed at the Aquarium, Me Sample was also performing. There was a steam engine there, but he never used it to put life into the horses. Mr Sample used it. The horses were vicious. He did not ride them himself until they had been cured. There were competitions between himself and Mr Sample. Mr. Witt: Was that not a put up thing? The witness: No, it was genuine. Was it not for £50 a side? Yes. And do you way it was genuine? The competition was genuine but the money was not. Cheques were delivered but they were not to be cashed. Don't you call that humbugging rot? No. Do you call it a genuine thing? Yes. What did you want the money for? To make it look right. Do you call that straightforward? Yes. The witness continued that it was absolutely false that he told the defendants or anyone that he stuck pins into the horses to make them jump. The horses were not kept in the ladies dressing room. One of the horses had kicked a door to pieces, while another had smashed a mirror. It was true that he held himself out as a man who could tell the age of horses up to thirty three years. Colonel Cody, the famous shot, now at the Aquarium, and several other witnesses gave evidence in support of the plaintive's case. Eventually a verdict for the plaintive was returned - damaged £250.

In the introduction to Among men and horses, dated 1 June 1894, Horace gives his address as Woodbine Cottage, Melton Mowbray.

In the 20 November 1895 Copyright entry records for a range of photographs, the address is Sandy Brow, Tarporley, Cheshire.

Captain M.H. Hayes is listed in the Index To the Register Of Passport Applications, 1 July 1897.

In the 1890's and early 1900's, they lived in Yew Tree House, Crick, near Rugby.

A 1898 newspaper article reports the property was renovated:

Rugby Advertiser - Tuesday 22 June 1948, p 2.

50 Years ago, from the Rugby Advertiser, June 25th 1898.

Workmen's Dinner.—On Monday the men employed by Mr. James Hollowell, Rugby, in the extensive alterations which have just been completed at Yew Tree House, Crick, for Capt. Hayes, were entertained by that gentleman and Mrs. Hayes to dinner at the residence. About 25 sat down to a substantial spread, and the host and hostess, together with their son, assisted in attending to their wants. The evening was spent in harmony, and the usual toasts —not forgetting that of the founders of the feast—were enthusiastically honoured. The schoolmaster kindly played the piano.

The Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 04 February 1899, p. 7 has a Southsea Visitors List. Included at Western Parade, No. 14, Lauderdale: Capt. Hayes, Mrs and Master Hayes.

Horace would died at Southsea in 1904.

There are newspaper advertisment for the sale of Yew Tree House, Crick by Horace in October 1903, and again in May 1906 for the auction of the property on Thursday 31 May 1906 by Alice (Mrs Hayes), with advertisments in August and September 1906 for the auction of the contents of the house by Alice (Mrs Rucker) on Wednesday 10 October 1906.

Rugby Advertiser - Saturday 10 October 1903

To Hunting Gentlemen and Others

CRICK, near RUGBY.

MR. JAMES STYLES Has been favoured with instructions from Capt. HAYES, To SELL BY AUCTION At the George Hotel, Rugby, On MONDAY, October 26th, 1903, At 3 for 4 o'clock prompt in the Afternoon, subject to Conditions of Sale to be then and there produced, which will incorporate the Common Form Conditions of the Leicester Law Society, in the following or such other Lots may be determined at the time of Sale. Lot 1. ALL that CONVENIENT RESIDENTIAL FREEHOLD PROPERTY, known as " YEW TREE HOUSE," CRICK, in the occupation of Captain Hayes. This Detached Double- Fronted Residence is substantially built of Northamptonshire stone and slated, and has been modernised throughout, is in excellent tenantable condition, and contains:- Ground Floor: Porch, Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen with Eagle Range, Scullery with hot and cold water supply, Larder, Boot house, Wine Cellars, Outer Porch and Side Entrance. First Floor: 4 Spacious Bedrooms, Housemaids' Pantry, well fitted Bathroom, Lavatory with hot and cold water supply, also w.c. Second Floor: Two Spacious Bedrooms, with Linen Cupboard on Landing. Stabling. Garden, and Paddock consists of 3 Capital Loose Boxes, Coach-house and Harness Room, with Forage Stores over same (this Stabling can be inexpensively added to by 6 more Loose Boxes, 3 Sables, &c.); also Ornamental Garden, Paddock, and Kitchen Garden, the whole comprising an area of One Acre or thereabouts. This property is well drained on modern and complete principles, being connected with the Sanitary Authority's, sewer, and has a good water supply. Lot 2. All those TWO USEFUL COTTAGES, with Out-offices and Gardens belonging thereto and adjoining the above, one being in the occupation of Miss Rushby and the other is retained by the Owner. This Freehold Property is Stone and Brick Built and Slated, and has an excellent Supply of Water. This Property stands on high ground, with south aspect, on gravel subsoil, is situated in the Pytobley Hunt. close to Church, Post and Telegraph Offices, and within one-and-a-half miles of Kileby Station on the L. & N.-W. Railway, and would thus form either for Hunting Gentlemen or a Country Residence, a desirable purchase. Early possession can be arranged for. To View, apply to Captain Hayes, Crick, and for further particulars to the Auctioneer, 36, Sheep Street, Rugby, or to Mr. W. G. B. PULMAN, Solicitor, Rugby and Lutterworth.

In April 1904 there were newspaper accounts (eg Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 30 April 1904, page 4) describing how Horace was engaged by the Zoological Gardens at Regents Park in London to train Grevy zebras so they could be ridden. The animals selected for a trial were 'Jess,' a 9-year old zebra mare, originally presented to the King by the Emperor Menelek, the ruler of Abyssinia, and a young mare, also of the Grevy species.

In June there were newspaper reports (eg Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent (NSW), Saturday 18 June 1904, page 2.) that Jess, the subject of a series of interesting experiments conducted by Capt. Horace Hayes to train it for driving in harness or for riding, had died.

England & Wales Death registration index record for Matthew Horace Hayes, died aged 62, born about 1842, July-September quarter 1904, Portsmouth registration district, Hampshire, vol. 2B, p 330.

England & Wales Death certificate for Matthew Horace Hayes, 62 years of age, Veterinary Surgeon, died 31 August 1904, at 43 Outram Road, Southsea, of Bulbar Paralysis, 5 months and Septic Pneumonia. Informant was Alice M Hayes, widow, present at the death. [Bulbar paralysis, today Bulbar palsy, is a set of conditions that can occur due to damage to the lower cranial nerves. Clinical features of bulbar palsy range from difficulty swallowing and a lack of a gag reflex to inability to articulate words and excessive drooling. Bulbar palsy is most commonly caused by a brainstem stroke or tumor].

Horace was buried 5 September 1904 at the Highlands cemetery, Highland Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Southsea PO4, United Kingdom, grave E 16- 14. Alice is buried with him.

Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 2 September 1904, p. 4

Death of a Southsea Captain. An Authority on Horses.

The death was announced on Thursday of Captain M. Horace Hayes, who was formally in the Buffs and Royal Artillery, was a well known authority on horses, and was employed by the Government during the Boer War. His works include "Veterinary notes for horse owners", "a guide to training and horse management in India", "Among horses in Russia", and "Horses on board ship". The deceased, who was sixty years of age, was a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Sporting Times, Saturday 3 September 1904, p. 2.

It is with deep regret that we hear of the death of Captain M. Horace Hayes, one of the best, and certainly the most industrious, writers on the subject of horses that every put pen to paper. His chef d'oeuvre was "The points of the horse", which went through several editions, and was a most valuable and extensive text-book, the original MS. of which was unfortunately lost by a friend to whom it had been entrusted. This luck would have disgusted most men, but not so Horace Hayes, who buckled to again with most satisfactory results. He lectured on the subject of the noble animal all over the world, making practical experiments, and was the first to introduce into racing stables the cotton wool bandage to which we are now so well accustomed, the object being to give as much support to tendon as to bone, by equalising the pressure. Captain Hayes, who was a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, was formally in the "Buffs", and subsequently in the Royal Artillery. He was in his sixtieth year.

Gloucester Citizen, Saturday 3 September 1904, p. 3

Expert in Horses

Captain Horace Hayes, whose death has just occurred in Southsea, knew more of the Czar of Russia than do our diplomatists. The Captain used to spend months at the Court of St. Petersburg, advising the Emperor and his Master of Horse as to the management of the Royal stables and the improvement of Russian horseflesh generally. What Captain Hayes did not know about the points of the horse was not worth knowing, and it was a very pleasant thing that his books had a steady sale, just like the law works of some of our most studious K.C.'s. He was in fact the leading authority on the horse, and several of his works practically sold themselves year in and year out. He was a member of the Authors' Club, and used to chaff the novelists about the need for continually turning out new romances when he could command an income simply by revision for new editions. Still, he did add to its volumes, and one of his last was the management of horses at sea. This was the result of his experience in going to South Africa for the British Government during the Boer War. The Captain was proud of the dainty presents of jewellery he had received in proof of personal regard from the Czar and members of the Russian household. Clever men like Captain Hayes do much to help us in foreign courts.

Grantham Journal, Saturday 3 September 1904

The death was announced on Thursday of Captain M. Horace Hayes, who was formally in the Buffs and Royal Artillery, was a well known authority on horses, and was employed by the Government during the Boer War. His works include "Veterinary notes for horse owners", "a guide to training and horse management in India", "Among horses in Russia", and "Horses on board ship". The deceased, who was sixty years of age, was a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He will be remembered as having resided in Melton Mowbray for a few years.

Field - Saturday 03 September 1904, p52.

DEATH OF CAPT. M. H. HAYES.There are few people interested in horses and horse managementto whom the name of Capt. M. Horace Hayes is not familiar, and the news of his death, which occurred on Thursday last, will be regretted by many. Capt. Hayes, who had at various times served in the Royal Artillery, Bengal Staff Corps, and the famous Buffs, was well known as an authority on all matters connected with horses, his experiences being gained in many countries, and under very varied conditions. He may also be termed a prolific writer on the subject, for he was the author of more that a dozen works, the majority being entirely devoted to the horse, and when the war in South Africa broke out he obtained veterinary charge of 500 remounts proceeding to South Africa on board the hired cattle steamer Kelvingrove, returning to England "after a most instructive passage," while a little later on he made a second voyage of a similar character, relating his experiences In his book entitled Horses on Board Ship, Other well-known works of his were Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners, Riding and Hunting, Stable Management and Exercise; while this year a third edition of his Points of the horse was issued. Capt. Hayes, who was a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, had been ill for some little time past, but few outside his own immediate circle thought that the end was so near. He died at Southsea in the sixtieth year of his age. In one of his works, which ran through many editions, a sixth being published last year (Veterninary notes for horse owners), the author tells his readers that his experience as an owner, trainer, and rider many years ago in India led to a desire to obtain some veterninary knowldge, and he spent his year's furlough in 1876 at the New Veterinary College, Edinburgh. This collegiate training, backed by his wide experience in the management of horses at home and abroad, made the late Capt. Hayes an almost unique authority, and no library belonging to gentlemen owning horses could be considered complete without the works we have mentioned occupying a place on its shelves.

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East, Monday 5 September 1904, p. 5

The death of Capt. M. Horace Hayes, the well known authority on horses and their management, has occurred at Southsea. Capt. Hayes, who was employed by the Government during the South African war, was the writer of many books on veterinary subjects, and was the author of "A student's manual of tactics." He was at one time in the Royal Art. and saw considerable service with the Bengal Staff Corps.

Field - Saturday 10 September 1904, p. 25.

THE LATE CAPT. M. H. HAYES. Last week it was our painful duty to record the death of Capt. Hayes, whose name must have become very familiar to our readers by reason of the number of occasions on which it has been made use of in these columns. The position occupied by him rendered these frequent references inevitable, for he was a most excellent authority on the management of horses, possessing a wide experience as owner, trainer, rider, and veterinary surgeon. He wrote largely on the subject, and it is chiefly in connection with his books that his name has been so often mentioned by us. As an officer in the army Capt. Hayes rendered faithful service to his country, and as a writer he has given much valuable advice to horse owners and others: but he has unfortunately left little behind him except his good name, and as this will not support his widow it has been decided to open a fund on her behalf. The manager of the National Provincial Bank, Rugby, has kindly consented to receive subscriptions, which should be marked the " Hayes Fund."

Weekly Irish Times 10 September 1904, p. 10.

Captain Horace Hayes, who died at Southsea a few days ago, was known to many in Ireland. He served several years ago in the Buffs, and spent a good while in India. Retiring early form the Army he tried his hand at many different pursuits, all more or less connected with horses, but did best with his books, which evidenced a good knowledge of veterinary subjects, and also of riding and racing. He married twice, the first being rather early in life, when abroad, and secondly about the year 1885, subsequent he again went to India. During the South African war he did some useful veterinary work for the Government, and for that at all events he had a very special taste and call.

Sporting Times 10 September 1904

I regret to have to announce the death Captain M. Horace Hayes, whose name is familiar to everyone who is familiar with the literature the horse. I have only seen the announcement of his death, and know no particulars. Captain Hayes was one of the moat voluminous and painstaking writers on the horse, and many of his works are, and will remain classics. Perhaps the most important and successful of his works are "The points of the horse" and "Veterinary notes for horse owners", both of which have gone through several editions. And "another edition" with Captain Hayes meant more than a reprint. He was always on the lookout to gather information to elucidate some knotty point or to learn some new fact which should illustrate his arguments. He had the facility of writing clearly and making his meaning plain on a very difficult subject, a faculty which makes his work all the more valuable. I have been out with him once or twice when he was seeking for information on "The points of the horse" and I can bear witness to his spirit of patient investigation. He never left a subject till he had thoroughly mastered every detail. He will be long regretted by the many friends in the horse world which he made all over the world.

Referee (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday 1 November 1904, page 1

The death is announced of Captain Horace Hayes, who was well known throughout India and for some time ran a sporting Journal at Calcutta which was later merged into the 'Indian Planters' Gazette.' The late Capt. Hayes was a good sportsman and a great authority on the horse. His publications are well-known, and will be greatly prized now that the hand that wrote them will pen no more. The deceased, who was formerly In the Bulls and Royal Artillery, was a well-known authority on horses, and was employed by the Government during the Boer War. His works included 'Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners,' 'A Guide to Training and Horse Management In India,' 'Among Horses In Russia,' and 'Horses on Board Ship.' He, who was Just 60 years of age, was a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 27 October 1904, page 1; Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 27 October 1904, page 1; Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 5 November 1904, page 59

HAYES. - On the 1st September, at Southsea, England, Mathew Horace Hayes, late Captain 1st Batt. 3rd Buffs, second and youngest son of late Horace Townsend Hayes, Rochelle, and grandson of late George Roche Hayes, Castleview, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Field - Saturday 12 November 1904, p. 80

HANDSOME HUNTER for SALE. selected by the late Capt. Hayes; he is 16.1, sound, up to weight, a thoroughly experienced hunter, with perfect manners, carries a lady; sold only on account of death of Capt. Hayes. Price to immediate purchaser 70 guineas,.—Mrs Hayes, Crick, Rugby.

Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 12 November 1904, page 6

THE LATE CAPTAIN HAYES.

By Bruni.

Of the many hundreds of authors who from, time immemorial have written about the horse, there is no name better known to Australian horsemen and horse-breeders than that of the late Matthew Horace Hayes, formerly captain of the 3rd Buffs. He was an athlete and a thorough master of all varieties of sport, from boxing to steeplechasing. He made a life-long study of the horse, and it is quite safe to say that in handling, riding, training, and racing the horse he was a thorough expert. He had the gift of being able to teach others what he knew so well himself, and his many works on the horse are highly prized by Australian stockowners. To show how thorough he was in his study of the animal, he utilised a two years' leave from his regiment to enter as a student at a veterinary college in England, and he passed with credit as a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has given to the world, as the result of his studies, that most useful book, "Veterinary Notes for Horse owners," which is written not for scientific readers, but for the guidance of the ordinary horsemaster. His books are written in a pleasant, gossipy style that makes them very, enjoyable reading, and the information he imparts can always be relied on. Captain Hayes's career in. the Indian army lasted from 1868 until 1879, when he returned to England; but he soon started again on a tour throughout the East and South Africa, and afterwards to Japan and America, giving lectures and demonstrations in horse breaking and riding. He afterwards accepted a position under the Russian Government, connected with the breeding and management of cavalry remounts. In his official position be was probably more trusted by the Government authorities than any foreigner in the empire. Captain Hayes showed great ability in every walk in life be undertook, but he never cared to settle down steadily to any one line. Of his capacity for work, it may be mentioned that when studying to pass as a vet., he coached a large number of army students, and succeeded in passing every one of them. At the same time he wrote a book on "Tactics and Strategy," which was so good that it was selected as a text book for examinations. He acquired a mastery of every subject be he took up with great facility, and one of his old friends writing some time ago, in the "Indian Planters' Gazette," says:—"I may be prejudiced as regards my old pal, but it is my firm belief that if he were now weaned from horses he could lead a cavalry or infantry regiment, or a battery of artillery, or manoeuvre a brigade or division, and give all the bounders 21lb. at it." Though his books sold well, and though be held several fairly lucrative positions, Captain Hayes was no man of business, money slipped readily through his fingers, and when he died in September last he was a very poor man.

England & Wales Probate registration index record for Matthew Horace Hayes, of Crich, Northamptonshire, died 31 August 1904 at Southsea, Hants. Probate London 30 September to Alice Marie Hayes, widow, £2083 18s 8d.

Coventry Herald - Friday 07 October 1904, p. 7.

Will, of the Late Captain Hayes.— Probate has been granted of the will of Captain Matthew Horace Hayes, of Yew Tree House. Crick, Northampton, near Rugby. F.R.C.V.S., formerly in the Buffs and the Roval Artillery, a member of the Authors’ Club, author of "Indian Racing Reminiscences," "Riding on Flat and Across Country.” " Practical Horsemanship." "Points of the Horse," " Among Men and Horses,” and many other works, who died on August 31 last. The estate has been valued at £2,083 gross.

Information from the introduction to the 18th edition (published 2002) of Veterinary notes for horse owners by Captain M. Horace Hayes. Roy Knightbridge (step-son of Frank Pyett, wife Alice's nephew) first become involved with the literary estate of Horace Hayes in 1975 when step-father Frank Pyett, by then sole trustee, asked him to help find a literary agent to replace the previous literary agent, Margaret Sanders, who had died. Frank then asked Roy if he would take on the role, which he did. When Frank died in 1982, Roy and his sister Pamela Sitch became joint trustees of the literary estate.

In some of the books is advertised Capt. Hayes' Horseman's knife (registered), manufactured by Mr Archibald Young, 58 North Bridge, Edinburgh. The design is like a Swiss Army Knife, with folding blade; hoof searcher; button hook; combined hoof picker, champagne and tin opener; corkscrew; and combined bridle and stirrup punch.

Published books and identified journal articles.

A guide to training and horse management in India : with a Hindustanee stable vocabulary. / M. Horace Hayes. Calcutta : T.S. Smith, 1874; 2nd ed, Calcutta : T. S. Smith, 1875; new edition, London : Thacker, 1878; 4th ed, Calcutta : Thacker, 1885; 5th revised edition, Thacker, 1893; 6th ed, Longmans & Co, 1905; 7th ed, London : Hurst & Blackett, 1929. (some early editions have the subtitle : with a Hindustanee stable & veterinary vocabulary, and the Calcutta Turf Club weights for age and class).

Veterinary notes for horse owners / by M. Horace Hayes. London : W. Thacker and Co., 87, Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co. ; Bombay : Thacker & Co. Madras : Higginbotham & Co., Calcutta ; Bombay ; Madras, 1877. 2nd ed 1880; 3rd edition, London : W. Thacker & Co, 1884; 4th edition, London : Thacker & Co, 1891; 5th edition, London : Thacker & Co, 1897; 6th edition, London : Hurst & Blackett, 1903; 7th edition, , revised and enlarged [by Alice M. Hayes], London : Hurst & Blackett, 1906; 8th edition / [revised by T. P. Beddoes?], London : Hurst & Blackett, 1915; 9th edition 1921; 10th edition, London : Hurst and Blackett,1924; 11th edition 1929; 12th edition 1934; 13th edition, London : Hurst and Blackett, 1938; 14th enlarged edition / Revised by J. F. Donald Tutt, London : Hurst & Blackett, 1950, reprinted 1954, 1956, 1962; 15th ed / Revised by J. F. Donald Tutt, London : Stanley Paul, New York, Arco, 1964; 16th ed. / revised by J. F. D. Tutt, London : Stanley Paul and Co, New York, Arco, 1968; 17th ed. / rev. by Peter Rossdale, London : Stanley Paul, 1987, New York, Prentice-Hall, 1988; 18th revised edition / edited by Roy Knightbridge, London : Ebury, New York, Simon & Schuster, 2002. Digital edition, London : Ebury Digital, 2012. [Early editions have the subtitle ; an every-day horse book; later editions have the subtitle : a manual of horse medicine and surgery]

The 8th edition, 1915, includes a table of the number of copies printed of each edition to date:

1st ed, 1877 - 1,250 copies
2nd ed, 1880 - 2,500 copies
3rd ed, 1884 - 2,500 copies
4rd ed, 1889 - 3,000 copies
5rd ed, 1897 - 4,500 copies
6rd ed, 1903 - 5,000 copies
7rd ed, 1906 - 5,000 copies
8rd ed, 1915 - 3,000 copies

Riding : on the flat and across country : a guide to practical horsemanship / by M. Horace Hayes. London : W. Thacker & Co., 87 Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co. Bombay : Thacker & Co., Calcutta ; Bombay 1881.

Indian racing reminiscences / by M. Horace Hayes. London : W. Thacker & Co., 87 Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co. Bombay : Thacker & Co., 1883.

The student's manual of tactics / by M. Horace Hayes. London : W. Thacker & Co., 87 Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co. Bombay : Thacker & Co., 1884.

Soundness and age of horses : a veterinary and legal guide to the examination of horses for soundness / by M. Horace Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". London : W. Thacker & Co., 87 Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co. Bombay : Thacker & Co., 1887.

Illustrated horse breaking / by Captain M. Horace Hayes ; fifty-two illustrations by J.H. Oswald Brown. London : W. Thacker and Co., 87, Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink and Co. Bombay : Thacker and Co., 1889.

Synopsis of lecture on The horse for military purposes, by M.H. Hayes ... on Tuesday, October 4, 1892, in the Prince Consort's and Military Society's Library : Lieutenant-General Sir F.W.J. FitzWygram ... in the chair. / M. Horace Hayes. Aldershot : Gale & Polden, 1892.

The points of the horse : a familiar treatise on equine conformation / by M. Horace Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". London : W. Thacker and Co., 87, Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink and Co. Bombay : Thacker and Co., Calcutta ; Bombay, 1893. 2nd edition, 1897; 3rd edition, 1904; 4th edition, 1922; 5th edition, 1930; 6th revised edition, London : Hurst & Blackwell, 1962, 7th revised edition / [revised by C. E. G. Hope], London : Paul, 1969.

The Horsewoman : a practical guide to side-saddle riding / by Mrs Hayes, Edited by M.H. Hayes ... Illustrations by J.H. Oswald Brown, etc. W. Thacker & Co.: London, 1893 [1892]

The horse from an artistic point of view / M. Horace Hayes. The Journal of the Society of Arts, Vol. 42, No. 2140 (24 November 1893), pp. 21-32

Among men and horses / by M. Horace Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". New York : Dodd, Mead & Co, ; London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1894.

Dogs for hot climates / by Vero Shaw, ... and M.H. Haves, .... London : W. Thacker, 1895.

Modern polo / By E.D. Miller ... Edited by M.H. Hayes. London : W. Thacker & Co., 87, Newgate Street. Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co., 1896

Infective diseases of animals / Franz Friedberger & Eugen Fröhner, Translated and edited by M. Horace Hayes. London : W. Thacker, 1898.

Friedberger and Fröhner's Veterinary Pathology ... Translated and edited by M. H. Hayes ... With notes on bacteriology by Dr. G. Newman. London : W. Thacker & Co, 1898. 6th edition revised and enlarged by Alice M Hayes, 1908.

Notes and Appendix to the fourth edition of Friedberger and Fröhner's Lehrbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie der Hausthiere ... With a chapter by Dr. G. Newman. London : W. Thacker & Co, 1898.

Among horses in Russia / by M.H. Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". London : R.A. Everett & Co., 1900.

Stable management and exercise : a book for horse-owners and students / M. Horace Hayes. London : Hurst & Blackett: London, 1900. [from the preface: A large portion of the material in this book appeared in articles which I wrote for The Live Stock Journal.]; 2nd ed, revised and enlarged [by Charles Steel], London: Hurst & Brackett, 1909; 3rd edition, London : Hurst & Blackett, [1928]; 4th edition, London : Hurst & Brackett, 1940; 5th edition, London : Hurst & Brackett, 1947; 6th ed, revised by Colonel Sir Andrew Horsbrugh-Porter, Stanley Paul, 1968, 1974.

Among horses in South Africa / by M.H. Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". London : Hurst & Blackett, 1901.

Riding and hunting / by M. Horace Hayes, M.R.C.V.S., late Captain "The Buffs". London : Hurst & Blackett, 1901.

Breaking and riding : with military commentaries / James Fillis; translated [from the French] by M Horace Hayes. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1902. 2nd ed. London : Hurst & Blackett, 1911.; 3rd ed.; 5th. Ed. 1930: 6th ed. /Revised with up-to-date commentaries by Major-General Geoffrey Brooke, London : Hurst & Blackett, 1946.; Revised ed. 1951.; Revised Ed. 1961. Facsimile reprint of 1902 edition, London : J.A. Allen, 1969. [Originally published as 'Principes de dressage et d'équitation'. Paris: Marpon & Flammarion, 1890.]

Horses on board ship : a guide to their management / M. Horace Hayes. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1902.

Suggested Improvements in Military Riding and Breaking / by Captain M. Horace Hayes, F.R.C.V.S. (late Captain, The Buffs). Journal of the Royal United Services Institution, v46 n296, 1902, pp 1278-1291.

Friedberger & Fröhner's veterinary pathology (authorized translation) / Translated and edited by M. H. Hayes. With notes on bacteriology by G. Newman.. London : Hurst and Blackett ; Toronto : J.A. Carveth, 1904-1905.

Prjevalsky's Horse (Equus Prjewalskii Pol.) ... Translated by Captain M. H. Hayes and O. Charnock Bradley ... With an introduction by J. Cossar Ewart. [With illustrations.] London : Hurst & Blackett, 1907.