Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-09
U. s. PRESSING Need
FOR CAVALRY HORSES
Not Only For immediate War Re
auirements, But For
the Future.

OF the problems OF the day. II 10 mol
alone matter of supplying a sufficient
number OF remounts for the cavalry
arm of the service for present day
needs. The question Of q reserve of
the yroper type for tho future bulks
large h the foreground. Col. John 8.
Fair Of TIE Quartermaster Corps has
this most important work In hand for
the Federal Government. Col. Fair 10
in intimate touch with horse conh-
tons throughout the United States,
and no man speaks with greater knowl-
edge Of the c9untry's needs in the mat
ter Of riding horse type. Ho realizes
that II is from the quick, active fami-
lies Of which the thoroughbred stand
ard bred and Morgan are representa-
tives, that the remount supply must be
drawn. Col Fairs plea for an acceler-
ated campaign of remount production
should carry weight with breeders In
every part Of the Union and make
them eager to assist the Government.
II think" said he today, that we
were all beguiled into feeling of Sc
curity by the census of 1910, which an
nounced that there we're 22,000,000
horses In the United States. 1t was
not until we we're at war ourselves
that the fact struck home that q very
large proportion Of these we're draught
breeds and that cavalry remount ma
terial was exceedingly scarce. Trans
port and gun horses we have In abund-
ance, thanks to the importation OF
Percheron and other draught breeds,
but In the matter of the riding horse,
almless and purposeless breeding out
side Of few regions has reduced our
standard to mediocrity. There has not
been that systematic effort in horse
production which 10 feature Of the
economic development of most foreign
governments, notably that of France
which is generally recognized as .
model for the world. The only helpful
influence know of that has been con
slant Is that exercised by the breed
ing bureau of the Jockey Club In New
York State and a similar organization
On more restricted lines In Kentucky.
THE only light horse families" re-
sumed Col. Fair, that have been pro
duced systematically in the United
States for specific purpose are the
thoroughbred or standard bred trotter,
and these have been developed for rae
ing purposes. 1t is fortunate for this
country that this should have been
done, as these animals furnish an ad-
mirable foundation upon which to
build o67s<war horse structure. Both
have been brought to their high state
Of perfection through breeding and
racing tests, and In the process Of eyo-
luton through which they have passed
the weak have fallen by the way side.
Nature in every breeding venture
gives a certain proportion of failures.
These tria.j of speed have developed
the heart and lung power OF the AMI
mails taking part in them. We will
therefore not have to breed those quail
tiles into the riding horse Of the future
II we follow the lines which success
has blazed for our guidance. am
therefore greatly in favor Of the breed
ing activities for the production of the
thoroughbred, as this Is the line upon
which we hope to build a type Of cav
airy horse.
"Of the foreign nations now at
war;" resumed Col. Fair, England was
the only country that had not we'll
grounded plan for cavalry remount pro
duction. Her TROOPERS were horsed
largely from the racecourse and the
hunting field, and these furnished the
10000 head in the emergency follow
Ing the mobilization. Today through
the generosity of Col. Hall Walker she
has her own breeding studs under the
control of an expert and British Off
Ger told me q few days ago that the
work was progressing famously
Observation-Disclosures
Test.
The sires which are expected to
keep up the high standard OF excel
lence must prove their right to repro
duce themselves. They are tested foi
speed courage, soundness and bottom
This is the same method which Is in
vogue In France and other Continents!
countries.
There seems to be an idea in some
portions Of the United States that
mares can not be worked prior To
motherhood and for some time after
the foa!s have been born. Visitors To
rance and rural England find colts
following their dams about the fieldss
rs the matrons help to till the soil or
garner the harvest. Moderate work 10
1enehcial for mother and offspring.
Another matter uron which the
armer should be enlightened is that
breeding operations may be carried
into the autumn, when most or the
year work has been concluded. II
mother ard foal are well nurtured and
warmly housed growth will be rapid
and in some instances as yearlings
here viii be little difference between
ate and early foals. When our cav
Try regiments return from overseas
hey will have to be rehorsed.
A Patriotic Enterprise.
THE breeding Of cavalry remounts,
therefore,, 10 q matter OF patriotic en-
ieayor, and every man who has q mare
the proper type should regard II as
4 duty to mate her this year under
tand that the New York State Con-
ltabulary is doing yeoman service In
his respect and that horse breeding
N the Empire State has been greatly
~ AII1rIOOO w A NnEn