Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-21
TEN THOUSAND HORSKS.
The Government fakes q Pride In Its
FOur.FoOted Stock.

From the Washington Post1
Whenever, upon the occasion of any pub
lie parade, the cavalry stationed at the Rarri-
son at Fort Myer forms part Of the process
sion, the magnificent appearance of the
horses excites the universal admiration of
the spectators. Their size, for they are above
the ordinary build, suggests in itself the idea
of strength, while the uniformly shaped
head and large, prominent eyes tell of the
intelligence of the animal. The horse is as
much Of the cavalryman's outfit as his sabre
or his carbine, and he must needs possess the
strength to endure long forced marches, and
the understanding to be of the most possible
benefit to his rider in fighting by requiring
the least attention.
It is said that France expends annually
three hundred thousand dollars in the Inn
provement of her horses, with view to OBJ
tanning hardy bred animals, whose endurance
makes them especially valuable for such IT.
regular services as is required of the Cossacks
of Russia, the Uhlans of Germany and our
mounted infantry.
The United States does not spend nearly
so much, but it secures a class of horses
high above the average, and by proper and
humane treatment loses but a small percent
age of them. Moreover, the animal when it
becomes the property of Uncle Sam fares
better than its fellows, and ordinarily its life
is continued in the service for some years be-
yond that of the horses of other armies.
Congress annually appropriates about two
hundred Thousand dollars to be expended In
the purchase of horses. This amount is di-
vided pro rata among the divisions of the
array, those on the Atlantic coast not requir-
ing as large a sum as the cavalry on the fron-
Of ha animal 10 M olt0-
gether one of lazy contentment. In Arizo-
ma, especially, the equine mortality is greater
than in any other section, and more horses
become disabled and unfit for further SER
vice. The burning sands and alkali deserts
lead to blindness and diseases of the hoof,
and the animal has either to be shot or sold.
The lack of proper pasturage and feed also
outs an important figure in the life of the
cavalry horse in the remote garrisons of the
West, for while his eastern brother is feed
| ing luxuriantly on full allowance Of oats
| and corn twice day and sleeping in COM
| Portable stable. the western horse is making
| q soanty meal ON husks and sleeping In q
ramshackle building that seems to have been
especially constructed for a free circulation
| of air.
There are nearly ten thousand horses IL
use by the United States army. OF thil
number about ten per cent. are sold annually
| because of their unitness for further cavalry
or artillery duty, and about FIVE per cent
are lost by death. So, in order to maintain
| the standard, it is necessary to purchase
| about fifteen hundred animals every year
When the stock of garrison needs replen.
ishing the quartermaster generals depart
ment is notified. An advertisement inviting
bids is inserted in the prominent papers and
| contract entered into with the lowest bid
der to deliver the horses at the desired point
If, after a suitable inspection by the Secreta-
ry of War, they meet the requirements o.
the standard fixed by the army regulations
The regulations require that the horse shal
be gelding Of uniform and hardy color
from fifteen to seventeen hands high; from
four to eight years old, and weighing betweel
nine and twelve hundred pounds for caval
~ horse and between ten hundred and fit,
and thirteen hundred for artillery horses
There are other requirements necessary, suel
as the general build of the animals and thei
health. Whenever it becomes necessary t
purchase the half breed horses of Californi
or southern Texas the standard of the heigh
is reduced to fourteen and one-half hands
Long legged, loose-jointed, long bodied ant
uarrow-chested horses, as well as those whicl
are restive or vicious, are rejected.
Most of the horses used In the army ar
purchased in St. Louis and Louisville, al
though the general rule of late has been t.
obtain the animals in the neighborhood il
WHICH tucy arc ocsIcu 4OI uSo, tA0 lQ0h pc
ing to obtain thoroughly acclimated animals
The average cost of horse is a triae owe
one hundred and thirty-four dollars.
As soon as the purchase is completed th
orse is branded with the letters "U. s." o
the left fore shoulder. and a complete de
scriptive list is made of him, which alway
accompanies him wherever he is transferred
The horses are distributed by the regiments
commander, and the riders or drivers are nc
: | oll fhopo r,aruNit on
else to use them.
With every troop of cavalry record {
, the animal is kept, containing the descriptio
of eyery one received and transferred, SHOW
!; ing the kind, name, age, size, color, mark
brands or other peculiarities, how and whe
acquired and disposed of, the name of i
\ rider and driver, and the use to which 1t
) applied.
pounds of hay and twelve pounds of oat
corn or barley, and in special cases of hal
service or exposure the grain ration is usua
ly increased three pounds. In localitis
where good grazing is practicable for COL
siderable portion of the day, or during Sci
sons when little labor is required of the an
mails, the ration is usually reduced.
The animals usually last about six year
q and at the end of that time are sold at au
4 | ton, or before, it they are disabled SO as
= be unfit for service. When sold the offic'
= puts another brand on the horse, making
D impossible for the horse to be sold to IL
y government at some other point. Cor
demned animals do not bring very mucl
: They are worthless for carriage purpose
= and are too much worn out to be fit for I'll
i more arduous work Of street car haulin
h They are usually sold TO contractors, WI
: employ them in hauling small loads. b
: the army horse does not last long after
drops out Of the service. Usually he do
a not amount to much when the gcvernme
!, has no further use for his services, and b
career thereafter is as short as it is uneven
full.
r r, -,