Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-13
HORSE 5 LONG TRIP
Army officer Will Ride Ara.
bean steed Distance of
5000 Miles

De1n SLeeu DlStdnce VI
5000 Miles
UNCLE SAM, TO FURNISH RIDER
Homer Dsvenport's Horse, NsJdran,
viii Be Ridden From Portland, Orc,
to Morris Plains, N. 1.-The Purpose
to Test Endurance Of Arab etseds.
Homer Davenport knows the differ
ence between wild geese and tame
geese. That was proved recently
when he was called as On expert wit
ness before the board bf United States
appraisers in New York city to pass
upon the comparative wildness of Inn
ported geese from Canada.
Mr.. Davenport also says that be
knows the difference between a good
horse and bad one. This knowledge
he proposes. to demonstrate to the sat
isfaction Of the United States govern
ment by allowing his imported Ara
bian stallion Nejdran to be ridden by
a cavalry lieutenant from Portland,
Ore, to the Davenport farm at Morris
Plains, N. j., says the New York Sun.
He expects the horse to average forty
miles day over the whole 3,1S1 miles.
Some time ago he went over to Ara
bia and took some long rides on the
desert on the backs Of little Arabian
horses. With him there went a man
who weighs 21O pounds and is six
feet four inches tall in his stockings.
One day this companion Of Mr.. Daven-
port rode q little mare over the desert
at gallop for six hours. The horse
carried just 900 pounds and came into
camp fresh as June rose. That con-
ivinced Mr. Davenport of the merits OF
Arabian horses, and he bought some,
brought them to the United States and
started a farm at Morris Plains.
/ One Of these Arabians was Nejdran.
Nejdran came in handsome box stall,
and his pedigree, duly signed with
Arabian fourishes and the seals Of a
pashh or two, came over In Mr.. Daven-
ports trunk. Nejdran had been the
property Of Captain Gainsford Of the
English army. He was played In the
international polo matches in England
In 1904 and came ont sound of wind
and limb. Twelve years is the age Of
Nejdran, and he Is fourteen hands two
inches high, all chestnut In colot
When Mr. Davenport exhibited him
at the Lewis and CLARK exposition in
Portland, Ore, In the summer OF 1905
Nejdran made a hit. He was pro-
nounced perfect by Tom Matiock Of
Hepner, Ore, and yDr. McGinnis OF
Newcastle, KY, Authorities In whom
Mr.. Davenport puts much faith.
A few months ago Mr.. Davenport
wrote to President Roosevelt that In
the interests Of the cavalry service he
was willing that an army officer should
make severe test OF the Arabian
breed by riding Nejdran from Port
land to the home farm. No such test
had ever been put upon a horse in the
United States, said Mr.. Davenport,
and he thought ride such as that
would open the eyes Of the army to the
value Of an Arabian horse as a slayer.
President Roosevelt jumped at the
suggestion. He communicated with
Major General ]. rs Bell, chief Of staff,
and through the office Of General Bell
arrangements were made for the rid
ing Of Nejdran. Second Lieutenant q.
r. Warren McCabe, at present stu
dent. officer In the cavalry school at
Fort Riley, Kan, was selected to make
the ride. General Bell says that the
test OF endurance will not be all on the
horse during the forthcoming trip. It
will be rough on the rider. In letter
to Mr.. Davenport, General Bell gives
his reasons for selecting Lieutenant
McCabe:
at would not do to detail large,
heavy man to ride such a horse. Lieu
tenant McCabe is a little less than av-
erage' size and is an. athlete and gym
mast, with muscles of steel He is also
an expert and experienced horseman,
hailing, think, from the state Of Vir-
ginia. He is devoted to horses, to
horsemanship and to outdoor life and
Is an experienced rider and polo play
err believe he also has the grit and
endurance and is modest boy. He
would take great interest in the under
taking and, am sure, would make
every endeayor to bring the horse
through in as short time as would be
compatible with maintaining him in
good condition"
The chief Of stair would have Nej-
dran's long journey systematized into
a scientific experiment. Lieutenant
McCabe will ride with the exact field
equipment Of trooper Of the service.
He will see to it that Nejdran's load
remains at all times as nearly the
same as possible. The rider is advised
by General Bell to keep daily records
of the distance covered, the condition
Of the roads and of the weather and of
what happens to the horse The weight
and condition Of rider and mount at
the beginning and end Of the Journey
will be recorded. When tits all over
General Bell will have in the archives
data Of considerable value.
Nejdran's exploit will probably lind
immortality In the book on Arabian
horses which Mr.. Davenport is now
LII.