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ARMY REMOUNT OFFICIALS Recent Results indicate They Are Working Along Right Lines. i Success at National Horse Show and in 300-Mile Race Proof Thereof. BY C. .T. PITZ GERALD. NEW YOKK, N. 1, December 55. It was the universal opinion of those who frequented the exhibition of the National Horse Show at Madison Square- Garden recently that the military classes were anion;; the most fascinating of the week. The display of horsemanship and the quality of the mounts refleeted the influence of war-time conditions, and the prophecy was made that the next few years would see a still greater degree of efficiency attained in this arm of the service because of the interest which is being taken in the Ajrierican ICemonut Association. The fact that this organization has come out in favor of the thoroughbred sire in its nation-wide breeding venture under federal auspices has been commented upon for the past year. The position of the organization was strengthened by the showing made by the thoroughbred gelding Allahmande from Fort Meyer, Vu., which swept everything before him in the classes for troopers mounts. Though only a four-year-old, this sturdy son of the Duke of Ormonde and Garden of Allah, by Star Shoot, which was bred by Edward B. McLean of Washington, had so much substance and was so fltlmiriihlv nfTilpd ntiat-tt--jinia--iili1pcfltliivc;faMt of ,1ns kind in the exhibition Additional proof that the Remount authorities are working along the right lines was furnished by. the result of the recent 300-mile endurance test in New England when Mile. Denise, a seven-eights bred Texas mare by Arch Oldham, a great-great-grandson of the English crack Galopin, defeated a big field of contestants. Mile. Danise Was placed in a class for polo mounts at tl Garden, and both she and Allahmande were inspected critically during the week by horsemen from all parts of the Union. It is not generally known that Mile. Denise was on eleventh -hour selection for the endurance test. She had but a slender preparation for the 300-milc journey over the hills and dales of New England. She was trained in company with the half-bred gelding Bunkie. by Bowling Green, also a Texas Oroduct, which finished third, by Lieut. Thomas McCreery, a son of the veteran New Jersey James H. McCreery. Major Stanley Koch, her owner, rode her in the test, and he is authority for the statement that the inarc lost only 25 pounds during the ordeal. On the morning of the start from Fort Ethan Allen she weighed 980 pounds. Rider and equipment weighed 230 pounds. The mare shows quality, and the following measurements should be interesting to horsemen and breeders in general: height 15.2 hands, girth at heart 72 inches-, at loin 74 inches, bone below the knee 8 inches, below the hock 8J-s inches. HOW CANDIDATES WERE PREPARED. The manner in which the Remount candidates, were prepared for the 300-milc jaunt is given, and is a testimonial to the skill of Lieut. McCreery, who trained thoroughbreds before entering the service. September 7 to 10 Ridden three hours a day at a walk, up hill and down weight carried 105 pounds. September 10 to 15 Walked from three to five hours daily, up and down hill weight carried from 105 to 200 pounds. September 15 to 20 Same distance and pace, but weight increased to 250 pounds. The above preparation was had in Virginia, near the Front lloyal depot. On the 20th the mare and gelding were shipped to Fort Ethan Allen by freight. They were on the cars for seven days, reaching their destination safely on the 28th. On the day of their arrival they had two hours slow work over heavy sandy roads. The country was slightly undulating. September 20 Three hours slow work over the same ground. September 30 to October 3 Work increased to-about five hours at a seven-mile per hour gait, "walk and trot, both carrying 250 pounds. This training was divided into two periods, morning and afternoon, and was followed by a thorough grooming, with the legs done up in cotton and bandages. October 3 to 7 Work increased to thirty-five mills a day, with considerable galloping. October 8, 9 "and 10 Each had about ten miles With full weight up. The army officers followed a schedule ligor-onsly which called for a speed of 7! miles per hour for the nine-hour daily period. This was niade up of 10 minutes at an S-mile trot. 5 minutes at a 12-mile gallop. 5 minutes at an S-mile trot and 10 minutes at a -1-niile walk. At noon and during the resting period at night Mile. Denise nivl Bunkie wore groomed and fed before either Major Koch, or Lieut. McCreery thought of their own comforts. In commenting on the endurance test as a factor ill the establishment of remount type. Col. F. S. Armstrong, chief of the Remount Service said: "No test of this sort can show conclusively the best liorsc for the cavalry. The selection of the individual, his preparation and care en route are hound to be determining factors. However, the Remount Service, which advocates the half-bred horse as the cavalry horse, started two horses of this breed in this test, and finished first and third. If the test does mean anything, it would show tlmf t,ie Kemount Service is working along the right lines."
