El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-01
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Horses for the German Army.


Julius Goldschmidt, consul general
corning the horses that are used by
the German army, says:
The following report concerning
horses for the German army is based
on information received from officers
and from an experienced veterinary
surgeon who has for years super1n-
tended the purchase of horses for one
of the Germany army corps. The So
called "remonte" horse markets, public
and private, take place in the months
of April to September in the parts OF
Germany where horses are plentiful,
mostly in East and West Prussia, oc-
casionally in Posen, Hanover, Hol-
stein, and Mecklenberg, and, rarely, In
the Alsace and the Rhine provinces.
Private remonte markets are allowed
to horse breeders, who have for years
furnished large and superior quota
Of animals for the army. and
who can offer lots Of from 20 to &
good horses. Such private markets
may even be held on the grounds OF
the horse breeders and occur mostly
in East and West Prussia. In Lith-
uania proper there are more private
than public markets.
The buying is done by five army
commissariats, consisting each of one
presiding officer. one to two assistant
officers, one veterinary surgeon, and
one secretary. The horses purchased
are generally three years old, in ex-
ceptional cases four years. The for
mer remain one year at the remonte
depots before they are turned over to
the regular service. There are no
fixed rules as to the weight Of the
horses, and when horses are weighed
in such places it is on account of scten-
tific food experiments or private in
terests. Butt It is safe to say that full
breasted, compactly-built horses are
used. They will average in weight
about as follows:
Artillery draft horses, LOO to 1000
pounds, artillery saddle horses 900
pounds, cuirassier horses 1000 to LOO
pounds, Uhlan horses 900 to 1000
pounds, hussar and dragon horses 800
to 900 pounds.
. The common run OF horses for the
line cavalry are bought at from $50 to
500, while the heavier horses for ar
tillery run from $140 to $3.50, and the
best horses, which are used for the
Garde regiments, are seldom
bought under 5000. This applies to
the remonte commissariat's work. Of
ficers, as a rule. ride East Prusstan
horses. Those that can afford it buy
blooded stock at fancy prices.
The best Prussian horse brings from
1925 to $34O. These are all however
bought at an age of from to years
and we'll trained, since the Prusstan
horse is hardly fit for use before its
sixth year is concluded. English and
Irish horses, which are largely bought
in Hamburg, are, owing to the richer
they receive on their ma
tive pastures when young, fit for use
at the age Of four to five years. and
are less nervous, shy and excitable
than the Prussian horses. The Irish
horse is the easiest to ride under all
the early wholesome
giving it calmer and
more docile temper. I have reason to
believe that under the name of Irish
stock many American horses are sold
in Hamburg, as the description given
Of them closely resembles that Of the
American horse. 1t would be we'll for
the American horse breeders or horse
dealers to correspond with large firms
in Hamburg, such as the English
Stall' or the "Olde STALL" before en-
tering largely in the shipping business.