The Farmer.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1699, 26 June 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Farmer.

On Army Remount ?Joiv;es.

BT COL. E. G. RAVESiri.L, K.A., IVsrECTOP. iND PCBCIUSEU of hohs::s. Bi request Colonel lUvenhill contributes to the 11 Live Stock Journal" a deectiptinn of the character of remount horses suitable for mllitary purposes and as our farmers are largely interested in horse breeding we quote the article in lull that they may know exactly the class of horse required. There are says the Colonel two distinct classes of Remount horses required for military work, vix., those for riding and those for draught purposes, or what are generally known in the trade as blood and strong horses. 0! the former, and most difll-oU class to procure, the requirements vary from the heavyweight galloping hunter and the Br-mekara horse type, to be found in th n and guns of Horse Artillery, the Household and Heavy Cavalry; to the lighter, better-bred horses for officers, riding-school purposes also medium and light cavalry. These have to carry weights wk:ea, with the soldier end his appointments, vary from 20 to 11 stone in marching order. Of the second, or draught class, some considerable few arc required for Horse Artillery and Royal Engineer Telegraph work that can trot their tea miias an nour without distress; and gallop to take up aposilion like fire engine horses; whilst the bulk must be able to trot their seven miles an hour without wearying; such as are used in heavily laden spring carta and parcel vans. These are necessary for the heavy guns of field artillery ; the pontoon waggons of the loyal Engineers and the Transport Service.

The standard for the above varies from 15 to 16 hands, with a girth of not less than 72 inches, and not pes than eight inches below the knee.

Bays, browns, blacks, or chestnuts of hardy colors are alone taken; whole-colored horses are preferred, and no party-colored (piebalds, drc.,) are purchased. To this an exception must be made in the case of those greys reqnired for the 2nd Dragoons, and a few for special other purposes, with some bands and trumpeters. A troop horse should be round and deep in the barrel, and deep in the loins or back ribs, not too short in the back, yet without much length there; his action most be true and clear ; he must stand well on his legs and feet, with shoulders and tail as well set on as procnrab!e,and bis breeding as promising as can begot. The description of horses required by Government for the use of the Royal Artillery are about half riding and half draught, rather more of the former than the latter; about one-fifth of the former should have breeding, pace, substance, action, and appearance, sufficient to carry officers.

Tne ace of horses reckons from the Ist of May. They are purchased under fixed conditions between rising four and rising seven years old, and for the Royal Artillery between 15.2 and 16 bands high. Mares are purchased as well as geldings,but no stallions are taken in England. Horses that have been handled or broken are preferred; no horses are taken with any blemish of a material nature.

Prom £lO to £ls for each horse is paid within a week or ten days of delivery at headquarters at the dealers’ risk, with £1 7s extra lor cost of travelling. On any horse selected out of the ranks by an officer as his private charger, an extra £5 is paid to the dealer. For the black horses of the Household Cavalry and the grey horses of the 2nd Dragoons a considerable increase in price is given.

Government will alone purchase on one month’s probation or trial, and if during that time horses are found crib biting, wind sucking, or to have sand cracks, seedy toes, sunken soles, or nnsoand in eyes, feet, wind (every horse is galloped to try his wind), Umb, or or any other way, or vicious in or out of stable, they are returned and have to be replaced. Well-developed, muscular, active, short flatlegged, good-limbed, good-shouldered, goodloined horses are alone taken; no weak or overshot fetlocks and pasterns allowed; no narrow horses with feet or legs crossing, and small, flat, brittle, blocky, contracted, or bad-shaped feet taken. The Government prefer horses undecked, and will not accept any with very short tails. Any horse with one decidedly weak or bad point is refused, and every troop horse must walk well and safely, and trot with some action.

If the promoters of the Hackney Stud Society's Show would provide space, and pay all expenses, no doubt the authorities would send a few remount horses to show the public the different classes, and it is suggested mat about 12 such should be sr-nt up of their last year’s purchasing.