Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-02-13
Breeding Army Horses.

Breeding Army Horses.
It is a well known fact to most OF
our readers that during the recent war
in South Africa, Great Britain obtained
most of her cavalry, artillery and
transport horses and mules in this
country. 1t will be news to most of
them, however, to learn that our
horses proved more lasting and re-
liable than those obtained in any other
country. 1t is even said that Ameri-
can horses were found better than
those bought in Canada, which is diff
fcult to believe but is perhaps to be
explained on the score that Morgan
blood is found in the foundation stock
of many of the horses procured in our
own country, while Canada cannot
boast of such capital foundation ma
terial. The old Morgan has given us
perhaps the best procurable army
horses. They had plenty of lasting,
staying abilities, good, sound bone,
fine, good-wearing feet and lots OF
nerve for work, combined with docil-
ity of disposition which is highly de-
sirable. 1t is further alleged that GER
tain portions of the west have been
found peculiarly adapted for the pro-
In Montana especially were found
hundreds of sturdy, fleet and sound
horses that gave the best of satisfac-
ton in the field and one naturally
turns to that part of the country as
most suitable for the production of
the class of horses in question To
come to such conclusion is however
quite erroneous in our opinion. The
fact that Montana has given perhaps
the best class of army horses to date
Is largely explained by the fact that
the native mares have been of the
tough broncho sort used to hard liv-
ing and exhaustive runs over extern
s1ve territories. Again the mountain
Gus pastures in high attitudes have
developed good lung power while the
lime formation has doubtless had
much to do with the production of
fine finty bone and sound, tough
hoofs. There are many equally good
locations in the country for the pro-
ductiOn of such horses. Such districts
are found, where nitrogenous foods
luxuriate and where the climate is
somewhat rigorous and the soil full of
mineral matters rather than rich in
humus- There are millions of acres
Of such land in northern Wisconsin,
d,
while over the line in the Alberta
country settlers may well assist in the
production of army horses of the right
type and character. 1t appears evil
dent that before long the government
will give special attention to this bust
ness of army horse production and
appoint ex-ofhcers to work with a COM
mission of expert horse breeders to-
wards the selection, approval and reg
1Stry OF stations and mares suitable
for the production of the class of
horses required. The right sort is
said to be dying out, on the plains,
and 1t is time to commence stocking
suitable districts with the chosen
class of breeding animals for the
work in question. What the breeding
stock will be remains to be seen but
it is likely that preference will be
given to horses possessing some Nor
gan blood, although a full supply of
such horses will be hard to find.
When such have been located it is
proposed to register them and pro-
vide for standard fees to be charged
for the service of the stations upon
approved mares also recorded and to
keep track of the progeny which will
be bought for the army at fair prices
time of purchase. Montana should
take lively interest in this PROPOSE
tion, but the other districts we have
Indicated should certainly have a share
OF the business and should the govern
ment decide to establish breeding
farms in suitable districts we would
like to see one placed in each of
the locations we have suggested.
We do not mean that these are the
only desirable locations for such
breeding farms but we do consider
them eminently well adapted for the
production of the class of horses
needed in the army. The soil and
climate are Just what is required and
the horses there produced will GER
tainly be sound in wind and limb,
possessed of stamina and vim and
sufficient size to meet all of the re-
Quirements. We understand from the
Chicago Tribune that Representative
McCreary has introduced a bill in
congress looking to government en-
couragement and partial control of
this class of breeding. Re
view.
The greatest nations of Europe
strain every effort to make science
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