The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-01

: seeing the Egyptians. the; for military
service. they arc tho host mounted
I troops in tho world What change has
hcen made ia their mounts during tho
past ton years am unable to- say.
but it seems certain that Lord Kit
+ chcncr i'm the midst of his troubles in
south Africa recalled the little horses
ne had known in Egypt. so small that
they are used by British officers FOR
polo.
OF all the horses in tho world The
pony OF tho Russian stcppcs and the
horse of the desert have prohabiy seen
the hardest service. They are all
small and light fcw measuring fifteen
hands.
If. as corncl Borden points out
there is ono lesson to be learned from
the military experiences Of the past. in
an countries. IT certainly is that the
ideal cavalry horse must be small and
that nc is impro % hy good blood.
Years az horse breeding should have
taught us that while we can create
types We cannot change the laws Of
nature.
Yet. animals srom 1872 up are pre-
scribed for aur GALAXY and our Of
hcers. intoxicated by taste of tho
show rims. arc growing more partial
each year 10 the heavy weight. The
War Department should remember tho
troopers and cNncnd 4 part of it's en-
orgy during tile present revival OF
things equine upon rcmouuts A
sprnklins Of cross country horses and
stceple-chasers is cNoeilent Tor the
amusement OF our officers out they
alone will not mount our troopers III
time Of need
There is this to De said in favor OF
present conditions. however and that
is they evidence an awakening which
has been long in coming Perhaps. az
ter period of confusion. the smoke
viii clear away and the recruits IN
the showing. having had their chance
after dclnsions will settle down to
business 1t Will not be long before II
is realized that the real competition OF
our army with other nations will he
in tho field and That the men must DO
a part Of tho riding Blu, time is val
liable and time is noeting and our en-
listed men are lumbcrne along far
TO tho rear while all eyes are iNcd
upon the brilliant few who race ahead
in their reckless nisht over post and
rail forgetful of an else but the haute
ocolo OF Saumur. and right here is
where our military horsemcn are hcing
led far aiiuld in their quest Of chars-
lishcd in tie minds OF the people may
be charger type. but wo arc con
strained To inquire, is il the type tor
Central Park. tho grass nclds of Lou
doun and Alhomarle or for the varied
country OF McXiCo and the FAR West.
with their mountains and arid plains?
II iumnnc ability is the true test then
our present charger type is q GOOD
one, with sufficient styio for tho mark
H.,
hunting ncld. But 1T ability to carry
great weight over rugged hills and
narohed wastes on short rations. is the
true test, then the typc OF charger now
seen in our show rings Is decidedly a
false type. The size and weight which
makes for the one preoludes 10 recall
tho sad fate Of those glorious HYDE
Park chargers in tho hills and on the
voits OF South Africa. There is point
beyond which no amount Of breeding
and perfection of conformation Viii
carry the larger animal. and however
courageous he may be 1t is Of no avail
when forage and water are lacking. 1t
Us Just wrong to award a ribbon
ln charger class to an animal incapa-
bile of Ions sustained effort under
known military service conditions. as
IL is to give q PAGER recognition in a
suitable to become hunter class" or
to give pug dog a prize In a setter
or pointer event Tho horse may he
a good hunter or Jumper and the pug
a good dog OF his kind hut they are
simply not in the right class
Our Cavalry and Horse Artillery are
AT present mounted on large. soft
bonod coarse monerols. In whi, n
draft stock proponderatss with a
noticeable AdmiNuro of the graceful
and courageous Junk head. As Colonel
4 Borden plainly shows. oven orr nrese nj
source Of supply undesirable as it is
| WIN soon fail and then waen it is too
J late there Ain he ac,us7t ms and r..