OUR ARMY HORSES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2479, 4 June 1915, Page 6

OUR ARMY HORSES

A FINE SUPPLY RESOURCES SURPRISE THE EXPERTS TRANSPORTATION FIGURES REVIEW BY COLONEL C. J REAKES. 1 When war broke out and New Zealand was called upon for men and horses JIO one doubled iliat we would get all tho men required of us, and men oi the finest quality obtainable. But, there were experts who doubted our horse supply. AJen in high authority 1 eared that wo would experience great ddticulty in securing sufficient, horses of 1 tho right stamp lor ceitain military purposes. However, the tost has proved that wo had a very much larger number of sound, useful horses in the country than had been estimated. On tho subject of Jwses for military purposes, tx>lonel C. J. Keakes, D.V.Sc., -U.K.0.V.5., says that the official census of horses is only taken once m livo years, and as the last enumeration made was in 1011 no recent figures were ' available. .Moreover, tho various headings under which horses were classified 1 in .the oilicial tables wore not very help--1 fill in enabling a reliable estimate to be formed as to the number of horses available of types suitablo for military work, though ior genetal statistical purposes under peace conditions they were Quito good enough. The opinion was . held officially that there was a good supply of animals suitable for mounted legiments, but that tho number available for purchase for artillery and transport work was a doubtful quantity, and ■ this dement of doubt was heightened by tho knowledge that within the last 1 few years, when a few horses wero ' , t,,r Pwaiient artillery, sumo difficulty was experienced in obtaining ' animals of the exact typo required. Hence when it became necessary to > secure horses for artillery and transi port work within a very limited tiino iio risks were taken. 'Die aid of the farmers' Union w;is sought and enthusiastically given, with the result thai all the horses needed were obtained within tho given time: and, what is better, when obtained iliey were a vcr\ useful lot, though the general standard of quality of those of the lighter type could have been improved upon had mere time been available, with conso- > quent better opportunities ior careful 1 selection. Four Shipments and No Shortage. Sinco the .Mam Expeditionary Force v.as dispatched three other shipments of horses liavo been made, and now a ■ fourth is being provided for. Vet no difficulty is being experienced m obtaining horses of the right type without any advance in price, and ihoso purchased of late liavo been of a generally higher average quality than "those first dispatched. .And, further, during the last four months purchasing officers have largely refrained from buying good mares of a type useful for breeding purposes. Tiw classes of horses required were: (1) Good weight-carrying hacks, Irom 14.3 to 15.2 hands in height, for ■ mounted regiments; (2) from one-third ■ Lo one-half draughts, active and of good > conformation, for artillery purposes; (3) i from half to nearly full draughts, for ■ transport work; (-1) strongly built, com- • pact, low-set horses, for pack work. "In selecting horses for fiervicc in fficunted-riHe regiments consideration had to be given lo tlie character of the work which would be required of them," says Colonel Keakes. "In tlio South African War the type of horso most favoured was the strongly built, active cob from 14.2 to lo hands in height. The presont European conflict is being fought under entirely different conditions, and a class of horses well suited to these conditions is an animal of the cavalry type, "showing quality, with good bone, up to weight, and preferably from 15 to 15.2 hands in height, though good sorts of from 14.3 to 15 hands are extremely useful, and some' of these have been bought. More Oare Needed, "Horses of most divergent types have been brought forward on offer to purchasing officers, and our experience of late has still further demonstrated the fact that horse-breeding here has for years been carried out in too much of a haphazard and unsystematic manner. Certainly tho farmers of the Dominion have not much choice in the matter of breeds, and especially tlie fact that no outside market for military horses has been available has prevented any general action being taken in tho direction of breeding on special lines. It is hoped that o"ne lesult of our present military activity will be tlie exerciso of more care and thought in horsebreeding. This applies more particularly to the breeding of hacks. Tlio r.rtillery and transport horses have shown, in somo respects, much more uniformity of typo and quality, tho main points of difference in individuals being tho relative predominancy of the characteristics of tlie thoroughbred or the Clydesdale. Those which l , whilepossessing the weight and substance desired from the Clydesdale Mood, have shown in a marked degree the courago and quality desired from the thorouclibred strain liavo proved most suitable. Others, while being good useful sorts, have been too 'cartv' in appearance,, aul their consequent lack of symmetry has proved prejudicial, though it is quite possible that they would do as good work as their better-proportioned Inothrpn: but from tho point of view of a possible outside market they would be less saleable. Carriage of Horses at Sea. "It is satisfactory to note the success which attended the sea carriage of tlio horses of our main Expeditionary Force. Of threo shipments which have reached their destination tho per- - ventage of loss has been respectively as follows: No. .1, two per cent.; No. i 1.7 per cent.; No 3. 1.4 per cent. This reflects great credit upon the veterinary officers and others responsible for tho caro of tho horses on board ship. Hut all tho good work dono on tho transports would liavo been severely handieappd had not groat caro boon taken to ensure that the horse-fittings were of tho right pattern, that proper provision was made for ventilation and sanitation, that the forage supplied was of good quality, and that proper provision of stores for medical nnd surgical treatment was made. ■ In tlio matter of tho fitting- f up of tho ships for horses, Lieut.-Cnl-onel Clayton, N.Z.V.C., associated with Captain Post and Messrs. Walker and ' M'Pherson, of tho Transport Board. k rendered particularly good service, his ripe experience and sound knowledge of all matters connected with the. transport of horses bv sea proving of the greatest value. Major R-eid, N.Z.Y.0.. undertook the responsibility of provid- , ing the necessary veterinary stores and equipment, and carried this out- with great, thoroughness. Mr, ,1. L. Bruce. Assistant Director of the Live Stock and .Meal Division, rendered greflt assistance in connection with forage. In the preliminary camp? Lieut.-Colonel Snowball and Lieut.-Colonel Lvous worlo'd bald and well, and in addition did good work in cniiiieelion with tlie purchase of horses."