The New York herald., 1922-12-10
ARMY RIDING IS
FAST IMPROVING
Experts Delighted With Work
of Soldier Boys at Recent
National Horse Show.
By G. J. FITz GERALD.

That the quality Of the horses and
horsemanship of the army was the fea-
ture Of the recent National Horse Show
in this city is admitted by the ex-
perts, who were delighted with the
showing of the officers and their
mounts from the Cavalry School at
Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Meyer. vir-
ginia, and Remount Headquarters n
Washington. Their showing was of a
character to gladden. the hearts cf
those responsible for the Federal Re-
mount Service, which was inaugurated
in the period Immediately following
the war, which had brought the neces-
sity of such movement forcibly to
the attention Of every cavalry officer
from this country.
It's breeding plan was modelled after
that Of the Jockey Club, and Congress
appropriated $250,0OO for the prose:u-
ton Of the work, which was nation
wide in it's scope. That this sum has
been materially reduced this year
means nothing in these days Of cheese
pairing, with retrenchment the order of
the day all along the line in Wash
ington. There is no fault to find with
the system which has received the un-
qualified approval of breeders and
fanciers everywhere.
Few persons have any idea of the
scope Of the Federal Remount Service,
which. according to Major c. L. Scott,
who has charge Of the purchase and
now consists of a total of 255 sires. or
these 200 are thoroughbreds, donated
by the Jockey Club and other racing
associations, as we'll as individuals in
terested in horse Improvement. Still
others have been acquired by pur-
chase by the experts of the Govern
ment.
While the thoroughbred has demon
strated his superiority as a top cross
in such work. there has been dis
position to give all breeds chance.
and included in the total of 255 are
twenty-seven Arabian sires. twelve
Morgans. nine standard breeds. six sad
die breds and one hackney bred.
"These stations are distributed in 40
States of the Union" said Major Scott a
few days ago, "and are being handled
by high class civilian horsemen, who are
acting as agents for the Government.
These agents are doing this work prin-
cipally with the idea Of improving horse
flesh in their localities and to assist the
Government In It's splendid work. The
great advantage to breeders lies in the
fact that the average farmer or breeder
of light horses now finds within his
reach a high class stallion, whose stud
fee is also within his means. The work
is most popular. and from a commercial
as well as from military point of view
Is of great value. One good feature re-
sulting from 1t comes through the elm
ination Of the grade sire. 1t costs as
much to breed from poor as a GOOD
stallion. and the breeders in rural dis
tricts have been quick to appreciate the
opportunity to patronize clean-bred sires.
There were 100 stations in the hands
of agents in 1921. These were bred to
1920 mares. which produced 100 foals,
an average of about 40 per cent, which
compares favorably with foreign Gov
ernments, whose average production OF
foals Is about 35 per cent. This year we
had 22o stations in the stud. to which
were mated 6091 mares.
'The idea of placing stations In com
munities desiring TO improve their light
horse product Is to work benefit to all
concerned. No interference with draft
horse or mule breeding is permitted. as
II Is most necessary to encourage the
breeding of these animals. Stations are
only placed where the proper type of
light mare Is to be found and where
light horses are needed for commercial
pursuits or pleasure. The Remount Ser.
vice especially emphasizes the produc
ton of good, well bred, high class horses
for riding purposes, instead OF a costly
nonrescript. useless plug.
'The Remount Service has four gen.
eral depots. principally for handling
requirements of animals for the army
These are at Front Royal. Va: Fort
Keogh. Montana; Fort Robinson, Ne
braska. and Fort Reno, Oklahoma At
these places forage is raised economic
ally and few high class brood mares
are kept for breeding purposes. At the
above four depots there are on hand
500 half bred colts ranging from one to
three years of age. which promise TO
make unusually high class mounts, show
horses and polo ponies.
"rhe support received from the Jockey
Club the Kentucky Jockey Club the
Maryland Jockey Club. the American
Remount Association and all other
civilian sources" concluded Major Scott.
has been largely responsible for the
success in breeding attained by the Re-
mount Service OF the Quartermaster
Corps to date. If this support. assist
ance and advice continue the result to
the army and to the nation, from a com
mercial point of view, will be of in
estimable value"