The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24
Cavalry Endurance Test
A Thrilling Spectacle
New England Countryside Attests to Sensational
Features of 800 Mile Race-Another Victory
for Horse of Arab Strain

special nespatch 20 THE Ngw York HHaALD.
csMP DEyENs, AVER, Mass, Oct. "a
Few competitive events of the year have
cieated greater interest throughout the
country than the cavalry endurance tests
Just completed. In this gruelling 800
mile competition, held with the eoopera
ton of the United States Army, the
worlds finest horsetiesh was entered It
was 800 mile race from Fort Ethan
Allen. VT, to this camp, and test that
soiely tried the courage and nerve Of
every rider as well as every animal.
This year a dark horse won the
event Mile. Denise. an unknown guam
lily, was ruled the peer of the field
with merit mark of SAGE points out
of q possible 100, based on speed, feed,
endurance and condition.
The surprise about the victory is that
liis mare was entered In the event by
Major Stanley Koch as a substitute for
horse no Intended to ride because OF
tie latter's sudden lameness. Mile.
Denise Is registered as an army grade
horse, which means that either her sire
or her dam was a registered animal. She
had been owned by Major Koch only
tree weeks and her training for the
test had extended only over that brief
period
This race Is said to be only the second
Of It's kind ever held In this countrW
that Of last fall being recorded as the
first The purpose of the competition,
It has been explained by officials con-
nected with 1t, is to stimulate interest
in the breeding or cavalry horses In
the United States and 10 determine what
breed of horse is best suited for the
gruelling work of cavalry horse.
HoUC Tho hri
contests really Is the participants and
the thousands of townspeople who
waited and watched for hours in order
TO see the horses and dust laden riders
stamp by are by far best able TO say
From all reports the race was a genuine
sensation across the New England coun-
tryside, and the interest that II has
created In this section Of the country
unquestionably is tremendous.
Groups waited. beside the country
roads at hundreds of points and waved
and eheered as the contestants passed.
And there Is a maximum of picturesque
ness to It too. Take, for example. the
competition of 1919. Represented in the
fourteen saddles we're a millionaire. AL
bert W. Harris, a Chicago banker !;
several United States Army officers of
high rank, three military cadets, two
Englshmen, one Southerner, and finally,
but by no means the least, two cow
punchers." The latter rode in true
Western garb. with wide sombrero and
colored kerchief.
The Arab Strain.
Five OF the ten horses to finish this
year are at least part Arab. In this
connection II will be recalled that in
last seasons contest the first Ave horses
picked by the judges were Arabs or
half-bred Arabs. Rustem Bey, the horse
that came In first last year and a close
second this year is also a half-bred
trotter, his dame being a daughter OF
Sentinel Wilkes. son OF George WILDER,
~ These facts tend TO confirm the
belief OF w. r. Brown OF the Arabian
Horse Club of America that strain Of
Arab blood gives endurance to a horse
and makes him a more desirable cavalry
mount. Two of the ten horses 20 finish
are full blooded Morgans, while only
one Is pure thoroughbred and two are
grade thoroughbreds
The time made by the speediest horse
this year Is hours ~ minutes faster
han that of last years fastest horse
and this despite the handicap CT forty
we extra pounds of weight imposed upon
the animals in this second test Crabbet.
with the added burden. went the dis
lance hour 23 minutes faster, than In
the previous tryout.
The finish Of the competition at the
camp made a stirring scene. Many
prominent persons were In waiting for
the dust laden plodders. among them
Major-Gen. David c. Shanks. comman-
der OF the First Army Corps area. and
Major-Gen. William Hahn, chief OF oper-
ations Of the General Staff. These two
in particular were specially interested
In the horses. They took an active part
in the examination OF the horses and
questioned the owners In great. detail
regarding their records and their pedi
Qrees
The severity Of the tests aitracted the
attention Of the Society for the Proven
ton OF Cruelty to Animals OF Massa-
chusetts. Representatives If this or
ganIzatioh, which Is a very alert Une,
followed the horses to the Massachusetts
Ene I, was their purpose &c prevent
from going into Massachusetts, any horse
whose condition. in their opinion, brought
II under their jurisdiction. Or. Clarence
w. Rowley. president OF the organza-
ton, with two other skilled veterinarians,
were waiting right on the line" DR..
Rowley did not stop single horse, how
looked them over carefully. Once they
all were passed he declared be had
never seen horses in finer condition or
evidence Of more careful treat
ment and skilful attention.
The factfof the matter is, the S0U mile
race was a greater testlof the riders than
of the animals themselves. according to
all Indications. There was scarcely a
man VINO did not blister and 'chafe and
who was not worn out by lack Of sleep
and exceptional exeftion. But II must
be said ir defence of the men that they
sacrificed themselves during the riding
IN the matter OF strength In order to
make II easier for the horses.
Mrs. w. r. Brown OF Berlin, N. H.,
wife OF the owner of Rustem Bey. and
other competing horses Including Crab
bet. Was ono Of number OF women who
followed the riders over the entire
course.
The great race finished, so far rs tho
eaders were concerned, In a blaze OF
glory. A great throng waited TO vel
come them at the camp. The crowd
gathered on the parade ground, saw.
ate In the day, the rivals Rustem Bey
md Crabbet. two of the Arabians from
Inc Brown stable, jog through the en-
,losure In the distance. They came
Town tho long stretch Of road to the
finishing Tine with their heads up and
heir ears pointing sharply forward. with
.vIdent interest In the spectacle before
hem. Their appearance was much az n
hey had just returned from a pleasure
aunt merely OF few miles.
The horses appeared to be IN perfect !
ondtion Not a moist hair Was Visible !