Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-06-19
SCHOOL FOR ARMY HORSES.
Vicious Colts Trained for Cavalry
and Artillery.

When Geo. ]. B. Aleshire, quarter
mastergeneral of the United States
army, was regularly attached to the
cavalry service he believed the use
fulness and longevity of army horses
could be greatly increased by the es.
tablishment of remount depot ser
vice, similar to that of a number OF
European countries. Largely because
of Gen. Aleshire's recommendation,
a remount depot was established at
this abandoned garrison last year. II
Is the only remount depot in the Uni
ted States army, especially in the
cavalry branch, the problem of get
ting the best results at the least cost
has always been troublesome. The
average farmer is reluctant to part
with horse before 1t is seven or
eight years old. The average length
of service Of cavalry horse is about
eight years, which brings him to the
age of ID or Is years when he Ia
condemned and sold. At the remount
depot it is estimated that 80 per cent
is added to the length of a horses
service if he can be acquired as q
four-year-old.
The >remount service is buying
horses as young as 21s years. These
colts are carefully tender and train.
ed until at four years they are ready
for the cavalry or the artillery. The
present capacity of the remount de-
pot is 1900 horses, which may be
largely increased by the building Of
additional stables. The depot is stu.
ated on almost 10000 acres of beau,
tiful prairie land. The old barracks
buildings have been changed into
stables, and in addition two new
stables have been built. Because Of
his knowledge of horses, the COM
mand of the depot was given to Capt.
L. Hardeman of the quartermaster
generals department, with Lieut.. w.
p. Ennis of the 1st field artillery as
assistant. The spectacular feats Of
the broncho buster" on western
ranches and in wild west shows have
no place in the work that is being
done at the remount depot. If pos.
sible, no horse is ever permitted to
know that there is such a thing as
bucking or pitching, the idea being
to train him, not break him. Gentle.
ness is employed at all times.
The belief is common that the
western horse is naturally wild and
vicious, but it is not accepted by
Capt. Hardeman, who points to Mon.
tana range horses at the remount de.
pot that have been made as gentle
and reliable as the driving horse Of
farmer. At Fort Reno a young
horse is first haltered, and gentle
effort made to lead him. He is pet.
| ted and caressed, to gain his conf,
! dence. He soon grows accustomed
to the halter, and finally the bride.
His legs are stroked, and in time his
trainer is able to handle the horses
feet. Then blanket is placed on his
back, and this gives way to the sad
die, and the horse is taken to his
STALL where he stands saddled fol-
hours at a time. Next comes the
mounting. Unaccustomed to weight
in the stirrup, or man on his back
the horse is inclined to shy. The
trainer, however, puts his foot into
the stirrup many times before mount
ing. Once in the saddle the rider
then teaches obedience to the bride
and the three gaits required of every
army horse-walking, trotting and
galloping.
The requirement that army horses
be bought by contract has been lifted
for the remount depot, and Capt
Hardeman authorized to buy in the
open market. Every horse for the
army must be at least 15 hands higf
and weigh $50 pounds. A total of 900
horses has been bought, of which COZ
are now at the depot, the others hav
ing been shipped to the different gar
risons. The horses come from Mon
tana, Kentucky, Missouri. Colorado
Texas and Oklahoma. The Oklahoma
horse is seldom desirable, because o
his small size, due to breeding tn,
old time range ponies. The Missouri
horse is looked upon as the best tina
comes to the depot.
For the sick or injured horses, /,
hospital is maintained at the remoun
depot in charge of an experienced
veterinarian. Distemper is common
disease, and is resisted by the Pas
teur treatment. All horses are treat
ed Immediately upon their arrival a
the depot, to make them immune
Civilians are employed as riders ant
trainers, and are given $50 montl
together with board, lodging ant
. medical attendance. These "wollies,
as they are called, are each assigned
10 horses to train.-Fort Reno (Okl.
letter to the Kansas City Star.