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

ern PlalnS-Selectlon Oh 0aiAaht oeoooo
for Uncle Sa,n-Rigorous Examination
The Last Test-GoOd Memory.
A few days ago reporter engaged ID
conversation with recruiting sergeant ID
the United States cavalry service, ana In
the course of the chat the officer drltted
into the discussion Of the merits OF horseS
suyplied to the service and the manner III
winch they are furnished to the govern
meri, >>-ot long since 500 horses were pur-
chased in this city, st. Louis, Chicago and
other larye mercantile centres for troops
In the four big western departments OF
the plutte, Dakota, Missouri and Texas,
In which divisions it is estimated that
thrae-f foi:r;hs of the army of our country
is comprised.
mo. ii our cavalry horses" said the
recruiting sergeant, "are lost on the plains
in the west. No one here east can con-
ceive the 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 thas
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. A 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-
haustion and others are so badly used up
that they never recover from the prlVa-
ton 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.
GWhat are the physical qualifications
demanded for the selection of horses for
the cavalry service?"
@WeI, 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 900 pounds. lie should be
short in the back and also short in the
pastern joints. A long-legged beast with
q badly-shaped head wouldn't pass mus
ter at all. Low withers is one Of the most
essential points, because horse with high
withers is liable to work the saddle Tor
ward and get sores; and once in that con-
dition lie loses flesh and becomes worth
less. In addition to these specifications,
he must be absolutely free from contracted
hoofs, or he won't pass the inspection OF
the board
"In what manner are horses secured LOT
the cavalry service?"
"Generally by advertising. The partic-
ular cass 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 draught horses
OF the Percheron, Norman and similar
stock, which are, Of course, too slow for
cavalry purposes. 1t Is singular tacf
that horse dealers, as O rule, consider fhe
government legitimate prey for oil so1ts
ot imposition. For, instance, at the last
inspection, only eight out of sixty horses
offered were accepted. Hostlers trotted
them out for inspection full q conSdence
s1 sa7gssSg1 useless edunes. 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 a shape as 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 were of hair instead Of oakum.
The eyes Of horse under inspection are
closely examined.
4 RIGOROUS EXAMINATION.
"If he, in general outline, is regarded as
worthy OF consideration at all, he is sub
mitted to II rigorous eXamination-which
takes up about quarter of an hour-all
over him from his teeth to his fetlocks and
hooffs. Then the hostler is directed to
walk the animal up and down the length
ot the yard and afterwards to run him as
fast as the beast can go. If his action is
easy he is ordered tied i'm for the final
inspection.
"The last test is run up hill for dis
tance of 20D yards or so to see If his wind
is goo!. No saddle is used. The hostler
simply mounts and trots to the starting
point, riding back as fast as liberal APP
Dlicat.on OF cOwhidc to his beast can carry
him. Il the horse passes this muster he
Is purchased and led to the blacksmith
shop to he branded. His first decoration
is biz &. s. on the left shoulder. When
he is detailed to regiment he is burned
again witt; the regilnental brand and with
the brand of his con:p :pany on 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 ,l;o:e painful than the branding OF
beat, .:iri think ne knows OF nothing
1norv DI.mfui himself The brands be-
come G..>,rre in Il few years and are neces-
sari.y ..:,we';. 1t is peculiar fact that
when -. ;'Ilc comes for renewing the
ope:u;....! 1!ne out OF ten animals remem-
be- ,.v .,rcylpus dose, and it is no easy
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