Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-18
CAVALRY SERVICE.
DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF
GOVERNMENT HORSES.

Hardship- of the Service the West
ern Plains Selection Of Gallant steeds
for Uncle sam Rigorou. Examination
The Last Test-Good Memory.
A few days ago a reporter engaged in
conversation with a recruiting sergeant in
the United States cavalry service, and in
the course OF the chat the officer drifted
into the discussion Of the merits Of horses
supplied to the service and the manner in
which they are furnished To the govern
ment Not long since 40 horses Were pur-
chased in this city st Louis, Chicago and
other large mercantile centres for troops
ia the four big western departments Of
the Platte Dakota, Missouri and Texas,
in which divisions IL is estimated that
three fourths Of the army Of our country
is comprised.
Most Of our cavalry horses" said the
recruiting sergeant, are lost IN the plains
in the west. No one here east can con
ceive the riEor Of our western military
duties or the har'iships they entail for the
soldiers and their beasts We suppuse
that the great west is t-eminy with YER
dure and forage, whereas the fact is that
in very many tracts Of country scouting
parties are compelled TO ride for week or
more, at the rate of perhaps fifty miles
day with no grain for their horses and
very little grass by the way \ general
scrutiny Of the condemned army horses
would show that their retirement from
the service is due more TO starvation than
anything else Very often the troopers
horse drops in the ranks from sheer eX-
h,v h. I.l
that they never recover from the priva-
tion and fatigue. and are finally con
demned for use in the field and shipped to
recruiting stations, where they answer
much better even than green horses for
drilling recruits
PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS DEMANDED.
What are the physical qualifications
demanded for the selection Of horses for
the cavalry service
Well, in the first place, none but geld
ings are taken. The government does not
care for stations or mares. The animal
submitted for purchase should stand
at least fifteen hands high and
weigh about gUO pounds. He should be
short in the back and also short in the
pastern joints \ long legged beast with
badly shaped head wouldn't pass mus
]
essential points. because hurS- with high
wIthers Is liable I" work the saddle for
| ward and get sores. and once in that con
ditiOn he loses flesh and becomes worth
less. In addition to these specifications,
ne must be absolutely free from contracted
huOfs, OF he won't pass the Inspection Of
the board
In what manner are horses secured for
the cavalry servIce,"
Generally by Advertising The partic
ular class OF animals desired IS becoming
Scarcer every day. This, | suppose IS due
to the fact that breeders are giving their
attention to the raising OF drauSht horses
Of the PerCherOn, Norman AMI similar
stock which are, OF course, too SLOW for
cavalry purposes. 1t i singular fact
that horse dealers, as a rule, consider the
government legitimate prey for all sorts
ut imposition. For, instance, at the last
inspection, only eight out OF sixty horses
offered were accepted Hustitrs tTOtted
them out for inspection fu!I of confidence
that they could unload their employers
full stock Of useless equiLes- some OF
the animals names and fOretOps were
plated and decorated with stripS of red
flannel Their tails were done up in com
mon bagging Of so bulgy u shape As to
suggest the probability of their being
about ten feet long OF course, those dec
OratiOns had to come oil to make sure
Stst ths ts.ils Were all there. and that the
names were of hair instead of oakum-
The eyes of horse under Inspection are
closely examined.
RIGOROUS EXAMINATION
III he, In general outline, is regarded "a
worthy of consideration at all, he is sub
mitted TO a rigorous eXaminatiuu-which
lakes up about quarter of AN huur-aIl
over him from his teeth To his fetlocks and
hOOtfs. Then the hostler is directed to
walk the animal up ami down the length
Of the yard and afterwards To run him as
fast As the beast can 20. II his action is
easy he Is ordered tied in for the final
inspection.
The last test is A run up hill for dis
tance Of 100 yards or 50 To see if his wind
Is gOod. No saddle is used. The hOstler
simply mounts aud trOts To the starting
point, riding back fast as a liberal ap-
phcatIun of cOwhide 10 his beast can carry
him II the horse passes this muster he
is purchased and led To the blacksmith
shop to be branded. His first decoration
is a big |. :. on the left shoulder When
he Is detailed to regiment he is burned
again with the regimental brand and with
the brand of his con pany Oh the left hip
For more perfect Identification he receives
an additional marking on the hoof and Is
then ready for business know OF moth
ing more painful than the branding Of a
beast, and Itaink he knows of nothing
more painful himself The brands be-
come obscure in few years and are neces-
sarily renewed. 1t is a peculiar fact that
when the time comes for renewing the
operation nine out Of ten animals remem-
Der the previous dose, and it is no easy
matter to repePt it.-New York Mail and