The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-08-05
CAVALRY SERVICE.
DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF
GOVERNMENT HORSES.

for Uncle Sam-Rigorous Examination
The Last Test-Good Memory.
A few days ago O reporter engaged in
conversation with a recruiting sergeant IN
the United States cavalry service, and IN
the course of the chat the officer drlfted
into the discussion Of the merits of horses
supplied to the service anG the manner III
which they are furnished to the govern
n1eLt. Not long since 800 horses were pur-
chased in ;iiis city, ST Louis, ChlcaSo anu
other large mercantile centres tor troops
III the our biz western departments or
the Platte, Dakota, Missouri ana Texas,
in which divisions it is estimated that
threc.fn,:r;hs of the army OF our country
is comprised.
"Nu,: ii our cavalry horses" said the
recrEi.n, sergeant, "are lost on the plains
In tn. west. No one here east can con-
ceive lne rigor of our western military
duties or the hardships they entail for the
soldiers and their beasts. We suppose
that the great west is teeming 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
5crutiny 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-
haustion and others are so badly used up
that they never recover from the priva-
tioo and fatigue, and arc finally con-
dc,nned 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.
aWhat are the physical qualifications
demanded for the selection of horses for
the cavalry service?"
well, in the first place, none but geld
irgs are taken. The government does no,
care for stations or mares. The animal
submitted for purchase should stand
Mt least fifteen hands high and
weigh about 800 pounds. lie should be
short in the back and also short in the
pastern Joints. A long-Iegged beast with
q badlv-Sauned head wouldn't pass mus
ter at all. Low withers is one of the most
essential points, because horse with high
witherS i liable to work the saddle for
ward and get sores; and once il that con-
ditioG Aa loses flesh and becomes worth
less II addition to these specifications,
he must he absolutely free from contracted
hoofs, rr j.. won't pass the inspection of
the Do1rl.
an whn, manner are horses secured for
the cavalry scrvice?
"Gencrally by advertising The partic-
ular c.:tss OF animals desired is becoming
scsrcsr a"ery day This, Isuppose, is due
to the :lct that breeders are giving their
attention TO he raising of draught horses
OF the percheron, Norman and similar
stock. ,"hic!r are, of course, too slow for
cavalry purposes. 1t is a singular fact
that horse dealers, as rule. consider the
government legitimate prey for all sorts
cc imposition. For, instance, at the last
inspection, only eight out Of sixty horses
offered were accepted Hostlers trotted
them out for inspection full q contsdsnGs
80 a-27a-1sszzzgEz 71szz useless eq nInes Some Of
the animals names and forcto2s were
plated and decorated with strips of red
flannel. Their tails were done up III com
mon bagging of SO bulgya shape rs TO
suggest the probability Of their being
about ten feet long OF course, those dec
orations had to come OFF to make sure
that the tails were all there, and that the
names We're OF hair instead or Oakum.
The eyes of horse under inspection are
closely examined.
i RIGOROUS EXAMINATION.
"If he. IN general outline, is regarded as
worthy Of consideration at all, he is sub
nittcd 70 y rigorous eXamination-which
takes up about a quarter of an hour-all
over him from his teeth to his fetlocks and
hoolfs. Than the hostler Is directed to
walk the animal up and down the length
ut tic yard and afterwards to run him as
fast as the beast can go. If his action is
easy ho IS ordered tied in for the final
inspection.
"rhe last test is run up hill for dis
tance Ui M yards or 50 TO see If his wind
is go0!. 40 saddle is used. The hostler
simply mounts and, trots to the starting
point, riding back rs fast rs liberal APP
plicutiol of cowhide to his beast can carry
him. i The horse passes this muster he
Is purchased and led to the blacksmith
shop 10 ne branded. His first decoration
is biz [. 5. on the left shoulder. When
he is detailed to a regiment he is burned
again wLl the regilnental brand and with
the brand OF his company Oh the left hip.
For moS. perfect identification he receives
an additional marking on the hoof and is
tEcn -..,iy iur business. know vi moth
irs :i;":y painful than the branding Of
bea.t. ....i t;ink ne knows of nothing
more ;r.a!u; himself. The brands be-
con-, ....,. l:yo in Il few years and are ncces
sar:.y ..'"u: II is peculiar fuct that
whe., '.... i'.lc comes for renewing the
ope:a:. e! .,!,.e out uf ten animals reEcm-
BE-" -. ,.,r,u; IrS'., nnG il is no easy
mat g.. :,:,yar it.--Ncw York Mail and
...:..:i..s i."le Island Oyster i;rdS.
Oys.v.s =: deep water discharge their
srau-:: ...".y i. August, 1T wniCh time