The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-22
WOundGd War Horses.

The scenes of the battlefield as regards
the soldiers are shocking enough, but
scarcely less piuful is the sight of wound
ed horses wandering about. For 1t is a
we'll known fact that unless a horse IS
absolutely disabled so that he cannot stand
he viii keep his feet. lie may have a
gaping hole in his side, part of his head
shot away, a leg taken off by a cannon
bah, and still he Will not drop. The
Shrek of 4 dying man. except as one
knows that 1t is from human being, is
as nothing compared with the shrek of
dying horse. 1t was with the idea that
some of this suffering could De alleviated
that the humane English people appealed
to the queen some time ago.
In time of peace the English army has
about $4,000 horses, worth an average OF
$780, and requiring an annual expendi
ture for maintenance of 81, 900, 900. York
shire used tc supply the English army
with its current needs in horses, but now
most of the animals come from Ireland.
The perfect cavalry horse has a small.
lean head, fiat, broad forehead, full nos
triis. a clean throat, a thin neck, we'll
shaped legs. long pasterns and straight
hair; bis chest is deep and wide and he
shows short, broad back and loin
The color is not unimportant Roans.
bays and browns are most sought after,
while ehestnuts are not liked on account
of :he white in them The Scots Greys
have gray steeds, of course.
The black horses of the guards are the
aristocrats of the military stables. They
are bigger and stronger than the ordinary
troopers mount. for they carry in the
stalwart guardsman, his Kit and arms, all
average weight of S22 pounds. Their av-
erage cost is $3.50.
The horses usually are bought when
four years old. They receive six months
training by rough riders before they are
passed out of the riding school as efd-
cient.
They are trained in patches of four
teen, and treated with every patience and
kindness. AS the soldier has only one
hand to manage his horse, most of the
guiding is done by pressure of the knees;
to this the horse soon learns to answer
perfectly.
The horse is. of course, trained to stand
fire. A rbine or cannon is fired close
TO his head, and he is persuaded to smell
the powder and the smoking weapon.
Thus his natural tinddity is soon over
come
Horses take to soldering readily. They
soon pick W the drill and never forget
It. Each knows every bugle call, and
answers to it as promptly as his rider
Their stablirg is excellent. A soldiers
horse always looks well in stables In
England he presents his head, not his
taiI to the spectator This tends to "a
pidity of turning out, and prevents the
brute from breathing his own breath. OF
course he is turned round to his feed
Every horse has his number, and in ad-
ntton his riders pet names. BY his stall
hangs his full kit, including two spare
Ihoes, which every trooper carries. OF
compressed forage and morse biscuit a
weeks supply IS also carried. AS prep
lration for a long days work the trooper
wraps a piece of raw meat round his
1orse's bit.
Entering the army at four years old,
he is suberannuated at fourteen. But
rarely does a horse serve his full ten
years. His average military life Is SIX
md a half years, after which he enters
ciVil emplOynent