The Advocate and news., 1898-03-02
Uncle Sans Cavalry Horses.

George ", walsh IN country Genuelnah
Notwithstanding the decline Of the
horse through the popularity Of the BIZ
cycle and electric cars, Uncle Sam must
have his full quota Of good cavalry horses
every year, and he will not retire from
the business until some fertlle-brained
inventor finds a good mechanical substi-
tute that will accomplish all that the in
telligent brutes are credited with. Our
cavalry horses are noted for their
achievements on the plains and in bat
ties, and it would require some invention
possessing an intelligence little short Of
human to replace them satisfactorily.
Every large breeder Of horses inclden-
tally keeps the United States cavalry SER
vice in View for 1t is possible he will find
In Uncle Sam good purchaser for many
of his horses that fail to come up to the
required standard in other fields. Not
that the Quartermaster of the army, or
his assistants, are deceived into buying
inferior horses, but the needs of the cav
airy service are very peculiar. A horse
that is useless for breeding purposes, and
not fast enough as trotter to make a
race horse, may yet be eminently fitted
for the cavalry. It is for this reason that
the breeders remember Uncle Sam when
they have failed to develop racers out OF
some Of their stock
The cavalry service needs about 700
new horses every year, and prices vary
ing from $125 to $3.50 are paid for these.
A few years ago these prices were consid-
cred so low that the offers Of fine horses
nnnA hnVnunc
brought double these sums In those
palmy days of horse breeding The
Quartermaster would advertise for the
horses and the different lots offered were
of such an inferior order that not one in
fifteen would suit the needs Of the gov
ernment.
But to-day there has been a radical
change inaugurated, and Uncle Sam
never had such an opportunity for select
ing fine horses at his own price. The
price of horseflesh has dropped to such
point that 5000 is now considered fair
sum for some pretty fine animals, racers
as we'll as roadsters and work horses.
When the qUartermaster goes into the
field to select his horses to-day he Is
deluged with offers, and such fine ami
mails, too! There are trotters in whose
veins courses the noblest blood Of che
leading racers Of a past generation;
sleek, well-formed animals, whose slen-
der, rounded limbs and intelligent eyes
and gracefully curved necks betray their
Arabian ancestry; and pedigreed stock
whose aristocratic lineage goes back to
the days of the Normans and Romans
The work of choosing from such stock
becomes a pleasure rather than duty
and the only regret is that SO many finely
bred animals are going begging.
For the cavalry service certain type
Of horse, however, must be selected, and
the claims of others can not be listened
to, no matter what they may be. The
animal must be gentle and free from al
vicious habits, and fair, nimble trOtter
Each one offered must pass rigid ex'
animation before veterinary experts, who
test every part of the body and limbs fol
defects or blemishes. Even the mouth
must be moderately sensitive, and not 81
hardened to the bit that rider coulC
not turn him without running into s
stone wall
The color has something to do will
TIC SSloCIlOu. WuIIS AO4oVS h@NC OVOi
seen in the cavalry service, but as rul'
they are not allowed there. The object il
to get a uniform color that will weal
well, and not require too much grooming
to make 1t look presentable. Sorrel
black and bay are the colors chiefly de
sired. Every animal must be gelding
and from fifteen to sixteen hands high
md the weight ranging somewhere be