The Billings herald., 1885-04-25
FOR UNCLE SAM.
HOW THE GOVERNMENT BUYS AMI
MAILS FOR HIS CAVALRY SERVICE.
The Particular Grade or Horses DE
manded-Physical Requisites OF Good
Cavalry Steeds-KiE,d Tests Of
the Inspection.
Isl. Louis Globe Democrat

Isl. Louis Globe-Democratl
= The government is buying horses in this
market for cavalry service. Four hundred
head are TO be purchased in ST. Louis, and
about as many moro in two or three other
western cities. These horses are for troop.
in tho four departments OF Texas, Missouri,
Dakota and the Platte, covering q range Of
territory extending from the Rocky noun
tainI to the Mississippi river, and from the
gulf to the British possessions It Is esti-
mattel that taree-fourths Of tie army Is en-
gagged within the scope defined.
The average life Of cavalry horse de-
pendS SO entirsly on circumstances it 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
it was intended they should 60 to.
Then again, they have boon known
to do god service for ten or twelve
year. Most Of tho horses are lost on
the plains, where tho greatest hardships
are met with. Here it is that the cavalry
horses endurance is tested to the utmost
limits, and nore but the best of them can
stand it, becau forage is scarce in the
western wiids. and many scout NJ party
ranges over the country, ri ling from thirty
to sixty miles day for week or more at q
time, with no grain for their horses, and
but very little grass. Oft the troopers war
horse dies by the way, AMI a good many
others are SO badly used up that they never
fully recover from the fatigue and priva-
ton, and finally they are condemned for use
-, fh., G.,lJ ho- fr>f
are placed on the retired LIST, SO to speak,
or rather shipped into recruiting stations,
where they answer even better than green
hor.es in the drill to prepare hewly-snlisted
soldiers for duty on the frontiers. A cav
airy horse SO badly used up as to be unit to
fill the place of a drill plug is sold by the
government ut auction, and the missing ones
AMI those that die are duly reported to the
quarterina>ter's department.
The particular class of horses desired, ex-
perts say, are growing scarcer every year,
owing to the fact that breeders are giving
their attention moro to raising Percneron
AMI Norman stocF. These Lreeds of horses
arc too heavy and clumsy for the saddle,
yet are more 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 here and says the law Of
demand and supply will fully regulate that
matter. Ttat theory. it is said, is good
enough in the absence OF an emergency, but
in the event Of breaking out Of a war with
civil or foreign powers the government
would ba in dilemma if it had to wait five
or SIX years for breeders to raise enough
horses to meet the demaA.l. In such a con-
tingency heavy horses would have to be
taken to make up the deficiency in class Of
steeds the govern ment buys now.
The general dimensions Of cavalry hors,
are between fifteen and sixteen hands high,
and Of not less than 800 pounds weight. A
"hand" is four inches, therefore the height
of fifteen-hand horse is five feet In bull
the animal must be close-built; that is,
coupled short in the back, -or a long backed
horse is deficient in the Strength necessary to
carry rider. The pastern joints should
also be shors, because many valuable horse
with long pa,tern, broaks down there when
perfectly sound in every other particular.
This feature is noticeable in many blooded
race-horses and is quite as liable to befail a
cavalry horse Of that build burdened with a
heavy man. The hcofs, too, must b, Of di-
mensions in harmony with the size of q
horse, as nothing will condemn him i'll the
eyes Of an inspection board more readily
than contracted feet.
Nothing but ceilings are taken. Tho
government buys no stations or mares. Th.
general appearance OF horse counts for a
.sreat deal A big-legged animal with an
il-shaped heal would not pass mu ter, and
he must be straight backed, or the saddle is
likely to work forward and gall the withers.
Low withers is one Of the most essential
points, for O horse with high withcrs il
likely to get q sors under the saddle, AMI
once in that condition he falls Off in flesh
ard soon becomes worthless. Coming up to
requirements in all these particulars, the
bor,e must be 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. Hostlers trotted them out foT
presentation at the rear of the stables, in the
full light of ten-foot square window sash.
Some of the horses had their manei and
foretops plated, with strips of red flannel,
and their tails were plated and seweI up in
q case of bagying But these Ornamental
tions counted for nothing, anil it was no use
for the jockeys to hold tla horses heads up
The tail sacking had to come off to make
sure that all the tail was there and that the
stuffing inside the sack was not false hair
or something else. A glance was sufficient to
condemn O great many horses. The eyes of
others were looked at closely, aud if the horse
appeared. in general outlines, to fill the bill,
be was examined very closely; frat, his teeth.
to determine the ago. and then oil the other
points mentioned in this article. The in
spection of q single subject sometimes con-
sumed twenty minutes. Then the hostler
WIS made to walk the animal down ths
length Of tho stable and trot back, leading
the horse by the halter. Then, if there was
no sign of larneness, and the horse stepped
Off with an active gait, he was ordered "tiei
in" for the last test, to see if his wind was
good. Ore 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 to any horse presented,
was also taken.
The last test IL a run Of two blocks up hill,
for cavalry horse, in addition to oil else
that has been said Of him, must be O long.
winded racer. No saddle is used, a hostler
mounts and trots to the starting point, and
rides back as fast as the borss can go, plying
cowbide at every jump If the racer is
not winde he is trotted off on a trot, led
with halter. and stands at a curbing until