Efficiency in the Army Horse, Daily Racing Form, 1914-11-19

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EFFICIENCY IN THE ARMY HORSE. As long ago us 1855, William Youatt. in his great work, Tlie Horse, gave utterance to some suggestions in regard to the best lines on which to breed horses of the right type for cavalry and other army uses, that are just as applicable and to the point now as they were then, as. witness the following: "With the most laudable intentions, suggestions have been made to encourage the breeding of horses especially adapted for cavalry service. No one can doubt the absolute necessity of advocating this highly important speculation; neither is it possible that any person can shut his eyes to the fact that a most emphatic impetus is wanting to induCo agriculturists to devote their best energies to tho breeding of horses, in order that a more efficient supnlv mav he afforded for this and other purposes. Mcasurea calculated to encourage the breeding of horses suitable for cavalry purposes liave not been for some time desirable, but they have now assumed an in dispensable character. It is a subject demanding serious attention. In order to effect this object most successfully, it is important that the utmost encouragement be given to breeding horses, without reference to any partiular class, as an Impulse bv which greater numbers would be produced, and thus a supply provided for all purposes of utility. Prizes given for racing would not 1 productive of benefit under any circumstances; they would not fill the ranks of our cavalry regiments. "Racing has been most successfully established: what is now required is to make it the interest of agriculturists to breed the best horses from the sources of the turf. Great speed is not an essential in a trpop horse at least, not so much as it is in a hunter. Quickness or activity is the desideratum, and that is very frequently not accompanied with speed. 1 he long stride of the swiftest race horse is not an especial quality in a charger, who in a more collected manner, with shorter step and quicker movements, is enabled to perforin the necessary evolutions with much greater facility. The description or horse best calculated for the militarv servire is that which ranges from 15 hands 2 inches high to 16 hands, on short legs, with good sound feet, strong in the back and loins, with fine recllniug shoulders muscular thighs, active, capable of carrying up wards of 14 st.. with hardy constitution These must be the produce of stout mares, showin" a fair proportion of blood, not essentiallv thoroughbreds, neither of the coarse, heavy, mongrel, carthi" class. Short, powerful, eoihpat thoroughbred sttil lions, such. lis are not sufficiently speedy for racin" are the only animals calculated to beget a promisin " progeny."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1914111901/drf1914111901_2_11
Local Identifier: drf1914111901_2_11
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800