Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-28
ARMY TO BUY HORSES
Continued from Page u

hand with the Parker Ranch manage
ment, from which all the animals were
bought. to have them ready for in
spection and examination. The price
had also been agreed on. so all that
remained vas to select the animals
and pass on their sOundness.
Fine Lot, Says Cheatham.
Il believe that we have secured a
fine lot of horses" said Major Cheat
ham this morning, and that this deal
will lead Island ranchers to breed
stock with army sales specially in,
view. AS l understand it, there has
never been any opposition on the part
of the War Department to buying re-
mounts locally, but the department
merely wished to have more informa-
ton on the subject, and did not act
until several reports had been sub
mitted. About two years ago the gov
eminent purchased SO horses, which, |
understand turned out very we'll If
the stockmen are assured of a mar
ket, ] think that they will try and
breed the kind of horses we want, in
which case things will work out to
mutual advantage"
The seventy animals will be ship
ped here early next week, and will be
turned over to the Fifth cavalry at
once. When the young horses arrive
at Leiiehua, the real fun will com
mence, for they are to be assigned to
O. single troop to school and gentle,
instead Of being distributed among
the various troops of the regiment,
where remountS are most needed. All
the old horses are to be taken away
from some troop to be later desig-
mated by Colonel Wilder, and thai
troop will be relieved from practically
all duty except schooling green ami
mails. Probably the troop will not
take part in the coming maneuveTs
even, for all the horses are fresh from
the range, and besides being abso
lutely green at army work, there
might be danger of giving them too
much hard work at the beginning Of
their schooling period, if they were
taken into the field. When the
horses are trained there will be a re-
distribution
Partially Broken.
The horses are partially broken
said Major Cheatham, but of course
they are not used to accoutrements,
end don't know anything about the
many tricks required of cavalry
horses. From what | saw of the lot.
though, l believe that they are good
dispositioned, and that with proper
handling they will shape up well in
few months. Colonel Wilder will
select some troop whose officers and
men are especially good horsemen,
and believe we will get results fast"
The horses purchased on Hawaii
are young animals, all of them being
over four years, however, that being
the government standard for seasoned
stock. They vary in height from Isl
to 1873, and in color bays predominant,
with cheStnutS next, and few blacks.
No grays or whites are purchased by
the War Department. A few years
ago gray horses were sometimes
bought for the band, to make that
body distinctive, but even this eXcep-
ton has now been done away with.
Get Good Figures.
Regarding price, the amount paid
was based on the average price paid
last year in the United States for re-
mounts, so the dealers here get just
as good figures as are secured by
mainland lOrsemen. On the other
hand, the government saves a little,
for it costs only $40 per head to ship
from Hawaii here, as against the
price OF railroad and sea transporta-
ton from remount depots here.
Schofield society is looking forward
to watching the post cut-ups," as the
troop that draws all the green mounts
will undoubtedly turn out to be, and
the early days of training promise to
be interesting to principals and spec
tators. Horses fresh from the upland
pastures of Hawaii will undoubtedly
sit up on their hind legs and take
notice when sabers jangle against
their TANKS, trumpets sound, motors