The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-26
THE KIND or HORSES UNCLE SAN WANTS.

Fl KIND OF HORSES UNCLE SAN WANTS.
and deep, fore legs straight and standing well
under, barrel large and increasing from girth
toward flanl-, withers elevated. back short and
straight, loirs and Launches broad and mus.
cuIar, hooks we'll bent and under the horse,
pasterns ~slanting and feet smell and sound.
In addition to these specifications tho
question of color is important, as the gov
erninent will require a certain number of
bays, browns, dark bays, ~sorrels, blacks or
grays. Gated horses are promptly reject
ed, and thoroughbreds are too light and
are undesirable, as speed cuts no figure.
Draft horses are likewise excluded. 1t is
the es ~perience of Captain Aleshire that a
cross eff Thoroughbred and trotting stock
produces the best light cavalry horse.
For the artillery a somewhat heavier
animal is needed. He is required for quick
draft purposes and should nov the car
rage ordinarily by weight thrown into
the collar rather than by muscular action.
As to soundncss and breeding the spocifi-
cations are the same as for the cavalry,
but the horse must be broken to harness
and be gentle under the saddle. Long leg
ged, loose jointed, long bodied and narrow
chested horses, as well as those which arc
FESTIVE, vicious or too free in harness, or
which do not after a rigid Inspection mees
the above requirements in every respect,
will be rejected.
When horse dealers have a governments
contract to fill, they send men to Kentucky
or Missouri, where tho greater part OF the
army horses are bred. These agents can
vass certain sections from farm to farm.
and in this way gather up animals they
are satisfied will pass inspection.
As there is no other market for such
horses as are used by the United States
army, they are picked up here and there,
one by one. requiring the expenditure OF
time and money. There is no limitation
as to price, and competition between bid
dcrs is all that regulates tho cost to tho
government, aside from tho size of the APP
propriation-
After a horse has passed muster and be-
comes a member OF a regiment bis educa-
ton begins. The methods employed vary,
as there are no department regulations.
The man to whom he is assigned is ordi-
narily responsible for his development, IN
der the superficial care of the officers. As
a rule both officers and men take personal
pride in the result OF their efforts in de-
velop;ng a recruit. He is trained precisely
as a man in many ways, being taught to
take his place in line, keep step, march
and oo~unterinarch, go through the evolu-
tions with precision and by degrees to lie
down on command and later to permit
firing over his head while in this position
as we'll as in motion. A horse may readily
yield to every ether requirement. OF tie
services in tbs matter of training, and yet,
through fear, absolutely refuse the test Of
standing fire. Veterans insist that some
horses, like certain men, are born towards,
but the average is small. AS a rule the
army horse is courageous, obedient to or
ders and displays loyalty and fondness for
a considerable master.
He is usually housed at night, and when
not in use during the day is allowed 70
Craze when on garrison duty. He is also
taught picket duty during these leisure
hours OF the day. In the matters of care,
food, fresh air and water. rigid garrison
regulations obtain, and shoeing Is regu-
lated by an army order.