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FEATURE OF HORSE SHOW . 1 Experts Delighted With Showing of Army Officers and Horses. Speaks Well for Federal Remount Service Major Scott Tells How "Work Is Conducted. NEW YORK, N. Y., December 9. That the quality of the horses and horsemanship of the army was the feature of the recent National Horse Show in this city is admitted by the experts who were delighted with the showing of the officers and their mounts from the cavalry school at Fort Riley, Kansas ; Fort Meyer, Virginia, and Remount Headquarters in Washington. Their showing was of a character to gladden the hearts of those responsible for the Federal Remount Service, which was inaugurated in the period immediately following the war, which had brought the necessity of such a movement forcibly to the attention of every cavalry officer from this country. Its breeding plan was modeled after that of the Jockey Club and Congress appropriated 50,000 for the prosecution of the work, which was nation-wide in its scope. That this sum has been materially reduced this year means nothing in these days of cheese-paring, with retrenchment the order of the day all along the line in Washington. There is no fault to find with the system which has received the unqualified approval of breeders and fanciers everywhere. Few persons have any idea of the scope of the Federal Remount Service, which, according to Major C. L. Scott, who has charge of the purchase and distribution of the stallions employed, now consists of a total of 255 sires. Of these 200 are thoroughbreds, donated by the Jockey Club and other racing associations, as well as individuals interested in horse improvement. Still others have been acquired by purchase by the experts of the government. CHANCE FOR ALL BREEDS. While the thoroughbred has demonstrated his superiority as a top cross in such work, there has been a disposition to give all breeds a chance, and included in the total of 255 are twenty-seven Arabian sires, twelve Morgans, nine standard-breds, six saddle breds and one Hackney-bred. "These stallions are distributed in forty states of the Union," said Major Scott a few days ago, "and are being handled by high-class civilian horsemen, who are acting as agents for the government. These agents are doing this work principally with the idea of improving horse flesh in their localities and to assist the government in its splendid work. The great advantage to breeders lies in the fact that the average farmer or breeder of light horses now finds within his reach a high-class stallion whose stud fee is also within his means. The work is most popular and, from a commercial as well as from a military point of view, is of great value. One good feature resulting from it comes through the elimination of the grade sire. It costs as much to breed from a poor as a good stallion and the breeders in rural districts have, been quick to appreciate the opportunity to patronize clean-bred sires. "There were 190 stallions in the hands of agents in 1921. These were bred to 4,200 mares, which produced 1,700 foals, an average of about 40 per cent, which compares favorably with foreign governments, whose average production of foals is about 35 per cent This year we had 220 stallions in the stud, to which were mated 6,001 mares. "The idea of placing stallions in communities desiring to improve their light horse product is to work a benefit to all concerned. No interference with draft horse or mule breeding is permitted, as it is most necessary to encourage the breeding of these animals. Stallions are only placed where the proper type of light mare is to be found and where light horses are needed for commer- Coutinued on eighth page. FEATURE OF HORSE SHOW Continued from first page. cial pursuits or pleasure. Tho Rem- .ait Service especially emphasizes the product! n of goad, well-bred, high-class horses for riding purposes, instead of a costly, nondescript useless plug-. "The Remount Service has four general depots, principally for handling replaccmcr .3 of animals for the army. These are at Front Royal, Va., Fort Geogh, Mont., Fc rt Pvobinson, Neb., and Fort Reno, Okla. At these places forage is raised economic j. ly and a few high-class brood mares are 1 pt for breeding purposes. At the above fcur depots there are on hand 500 half-bred ce lts ranging from one to three years of a. a, which promise to make unusually high-flasa mounts, show horses and polo ponies. "The support received from the Jocl.y Club, the Kentucky Jockey Club, the Maryland Jockey Club, the American Remount Association and all other civilian sources," concluded Major Scott, "has been largely responsible for the success in breeding attaimd by the Remount Service of the Quartermaster Corps to date. If this support, assistanca and advice continues the result to the army and to the nation from a commercial po-nt of view will be of inestimable value."
