THE WAR HORSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1318, 29 July 1915, Page 2

THE WAR HORSE.

HIS TRAINING. The almost human instinct possessed by trained cavalry and artillery horses provides a striking illustration of equine intelligence. They understand the words of command qmte as well as their riders and drivers, and will answer to the regular calls in the most perfect manner. One has only to watch cavalry executing a turning movement to realise how perfect the understanding is between the horses and the men, and after a few lessons in charging, the horses will prick up their ears the moment they hear the word, and throw themselves into the rush as whole-hearted-ly as their riders. Of course, the animals have to go through a strict course of training before they reach this pitch of perfection. As a rule, they aie bought as raw colts, and after the preliminary break.ng-in—getting used to bit, saddle, and rider—they are taught to jump and lie: down. When this part of the training is satisfactorily accomplished, the horse is taught to halt sharply at the word of command, to pull up in its own length, even when galloping, and to walk, trot and gallop in line. This last is a very essential part of his education, because when, a charge is ordered in battle it is essential that all the horses should keep in a mass.

A very important part of the training is to teach a horse to stand fire. At first the horses are terrified when they hear the thunder of artillery and the crack of rilles. They get restless, and “whinny” with fright. After having been through the hands of the expert at the cavalry school, however, a horse will aliow round after round to be fired over its body without moving. Naturally a perfectly-trained army horse is greatly treasured by our soldiers, and it is gratifying to note that the Army Veterinary Corps, with whose work the public is very little acquainted, have been so successful during the present war that it is estimated that out of 27,000 wounded or sick horses hat have passed through

the hands of the corps, 10,000 have been returned for service at the front again, while a very large portion of the remainder are making good progress at convalescent farms. It was the. South African War which taught the value of the Army Veterinary Corps, which was established in 1903. During the Boer War the work of looking after the horses was done by the Veterinary Department. an organisation, however, which left much to be desired. The A.V.C. is now the largest organisation of its kind attached to any army in the world. Many of the cases it has dealt with have been wonderful examples of surgical skill, and the lives of hundreds of animals have been saved, of which many would hitherto have been condemned as incurable, even in time of peace.

It is a fact that for every British horse sacrificed to the ravages of the war, the G-ermans have lost four, so skilful has been the work of the A.V.C. The average price of an army horse being between £4O and £5O, it will be readily appreciated that the work of this corps is of the greatest value.

A lady resident in Sydney married a few years ago a German in a good position there who belonged to the naval reserve of his nation. On the outbreak of war he was ordered to

join the Gneisenau as an executive officer. On the sinking of the H.M.S. Good Hope and Monmouth by the German squadron, of which these cruisers formed part, he wrote to his wife to this effect: —“This is the first of our naval victories, which will continue until the English naval power is destroyed. Then we shall take possession of Australia, but before this occurs you must leave it for Germany, where you will be safe. To remain where you are would be terrible, for nothing will be left undone to bring the Australian people under control and ensure passive submission to German rule.” The writer went down with his vessel, and so is beyond the retribution which he had earned by It's treachery to the country which he sought and dwelt in for his own gain. His wife, though showing the letter to Australian friends of standing, declines to permit verbatim publication.