, 1885-04-07
FOR UNCLE SAM.
HOW THE GOVERNMENT BUYS AM
MAILS FOR HIS CAVALRY SERVICE
me Particular Grade of Horses De
mAnded-PhysieAi Requisite. Of Good
Cavalry steeds-RiEid Tests Of
tho Inspection.

a81A - = - -
head are to bs purchased I'm st. Louis, and
about as many mora in two or three other
western cities These horses are for troops
in the -four departments Of Texas, Missouri,
Dakota and the Platte, covering a range OF
territory extending from the Rocky noun
tains to the Mississippi river. and from the
gulf TO the British possessions 1t Is esti-
mated that three-fourths OF tho army Is en-.
gagged within the scope defined
Tba average life Of a cavalry horse do
ponds 80 entirely on circumstances 1t Is diff
cult to say how long he will last before he is
condemned, or dies from hardship or the
bullet Sometimes they die before they feel
the brand OF the regiment or company
Il was intended they should go to
Then again. they have been known
to do good service for ten or twelve
years. Most OF the horses are lost on
the plains, where the greatest hRrdships
Are met with. Here It Is that the cavalry
horses endurance Is tested TO the utmost
limits and none but the best OF them can
stand it, because forage is scarce In tho
western wilds, and many a scouting party
ranges over tho country, riding from thirty
10 sixty miles a day for a week or more at n
time, with no grain for their horses, and
but very little grass Oft the troopers war
horse dies by tho way, and n good many
others are SO badly used up that they never
fully recover from tho fatigue aud priva-
ton, and finally they are condemned for uso
in the field. The best OF condemned horses
are placed on the retired list, so TO speak,
or rather shipped into recruiting stations.
where they answer oven better than green
horses an the drill 10 prepare nsw1y-eniisted
soldiers for duty on tho frontiers. A cav
airy horse so badly used up as to be unfit to
fill the place Of a drill plug is sold by the
erovaru franf - assrffo, au1 fha wufaufn. nn..
and those that die are duly reported to the
quartermaster's department.
The particular class Of horses desired, OK
perts say, ere growing scarcer every year,
owing to the fact that breeders are giving
their attention more to raising Percheron
and Norman stock. These breeds OF horses
are too heavy and clumsy for the saddle,
yet are moro In demand, and sell for more
money for draft purposes than smaller
animals. These facts suggest that cavalry
horses would soon run out, but the political
economist steps in hero and says the law OF
demand and supply win fully regulate that
matter. Thai theory, IL Is said, is good
enough in the absence of an emergency, but
In the event Of a breaking out Of a war with
civil or foreign powers the government
would be In a dilemma II It had to wait five
or six years for breeders to raise enough
horses to meet the demand. In such a con
tlngency heavy horses would have TO DO
taken TO make up the deficiency in class OF
steeds the government buys now.
The general dimensions OF a cavalry horss
are between fifteen and sixteen hands high,
and Of not less than 900 pounds weight. A
hand" is four inches, therefore the height
OF n ~lfteen-hand horse is five feet. In buili
tho animal must DO close-built; that is,
coupled short in the back, for a long-backed
1.n,ua L. sla0afauf nfha nfrnnwfh 80 D..
carry a rider. The pastsrn joints should
also DO short, because many a valuable horse
with Long pasterns breaks down there when
perfectly sound In every other particular.
This feature is noticeable In many blooded
race-horses and Is quite as liable to bofall a
cavalry horse Of that build burdenod with a
heavy man. The hoofs, too, must bs OF di-
mensions in harmony with tho size OF a
horse, as nothing Will condemn him In the
eyes Of al inspection board more readily
than contracted feet.
Nothing but geldings are taken. The
government buys no stations or mares. The
general appearance OF a horse counts for
great deal. A 4 -leggod animal with an
mshaped head would not pass muster, and
no must DO STRAIGHTFORWARD, or the saddle is
likely TO work forward and gall the withers.
Low withens Is one OF tho most essential
points, FOR q horse with high withers Is
likely TO get a sors under tho saddle, and
once in that condition he falls of In flesh
and soon becomes worthless. Coming up 10
requirements in all these particulars, the
horso must DO active. sound in wind and
limb. and free from blemish.
The inspection was held at Reilly & VOL
forts stables, where, during the forenoon,
but seven out Of forty odd horses were
accepted. Holsters trotted them out for
presentation at the rear Of the stables, in tho
full light OF a ~ten-foot square window sash.
Some OF tho horses had their names and
foretops plated, with strips OF rcd flannel,
and their tails were plated and sewed up in
a ease OF bagging But these ornamental
tons counted for nothing, and it was no use
for the jockeys TO hold the horses heads up.
The taiI-sacking had 10 come off to make
sure that all the tail was there, and that the
stnilinK inside the sack was not false hair
or something elss. A glance was sufficient to
condemn a great many horses. Tbs eyes OF
others were looked at closely, aud II the horse
appeared. ia general outlines, TO all the bill,
he was xamined very closely; iirst, his teeth.
TO dctermine the aga, and then all the other
points mentioned in this article. The in
spection OF a single subject sometimes con
sumed twenty minutes Then the hostlsr
was made to walk tho animal down tho
length Of tho stablo and trot back. leading
the horse by the halter. Then, II there wa
~ sign OF l~anensss, and the horse stepped
of with an active gait, he was ordered "tied
In for the last tsst. to see II his wind was
good. One OF the horses accepted was a
fraction under height, but being an extra
fine animal, surprising in all the other re-
Quirements Of excellence, he was accepted.
Then another, that was under age, but 9TH
erwiSe far superior 10 any horse presented,
was also taken.
The hast test Is a run Of two blocks up hill,
for a cavalry horse, in addition to all else
that has been said Of him, must be n long
winded racer. No saddle Is used, a hostler
mounts and trots to the starting point, and
rides back as fast as the horse can 70, plying
a cowhids at every jump II the racer is
not windei he Is trotted off ON a trot, led
with a halter, and stand at a curbing until
tie inspectors are ready to brand.
This is the last feature; the horses are
are taken to a blacksmith-shop and tbee
branded with u. s. on the left shoulder.
That settles the animals destiny-he Is no
longer private property. When he gets to
his regiment he will feel the red-hot iron
twice more. once from the regimental brand
and once with the brand Of the company on
his left hip Then a number will be burned
In the hoof for more perfect identification.
These trands usually become obscure in the
course Of a year, and bave 10 be renewed,
and 1t Is not an easy matter b hurn a horse
that has once shifted the odor.