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ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



The plan under which this work is carried on was definitely put 

 into effect in 1913, under Congressional authority, on the following 

 terms : The owners of suitable mares may breed them to Government 

 remount stallions free of charge by giving the Government an option 

 at $150 on the resulting foals during the year they are 3 years old. 

 In case the foal dies, gets hurt, or is not taken by the Government no 

 service fee is charged. If the owner wishes to relieve himself from 

 the option he can do so at any time by paying a service fee of $25. 



In the first breeding district, which includes Vermont and New 

 Hampshire, with headquarters at Middlebury, Vt., stallions of the 

 Morgan breed are used. In the second district, composed of Virginia 

 and West Virginia, with headquarters at Front Royal, Va., Thor- 

 oughbred, Standardbred, and American Saddle stallions are in use. 

 The third district comprises Kentucky and Tennessee, with head- 

 quarters at Lexington, Ky. In this district Standardbred an 1 

 American Saddle stallions are used. No stallions are retained in 

 service unless they remain sound and are sure foal getters. A very 

 large percentage of the foals produced give promise of being useful 

 either as general utility farm horses or as Cavalry and Artillery horses. 

 Beginning with 1914, foals bred on the remount plan have been 

 shown successfully at various fairs and horse shows, both in classes 

 exclusively for them and in classes open to all entries. 



The following table shows the results obtained from the stallions 

 in service in the respective districts, beginning with the season of 

 1913: 



Record of stallions in Army horse-breeding work. 



1 Includes only reports received to June 30, 1916. 



Many applications for remount stallions for particular districts 

 can not be filled because the funds available do not permit of extend- 

 ing the work. With Government aid in furnishing suitable sires, 

 farmers are glad to cooperate in producing horses which will give 

 the country a reserve that may be drawn upon for military use in 

 case of hostilities, and during peace insure useful Cavalry and Ar- 

 tillery horses and general utility farm horses. The quality of the 

 horse stock is gradually being improved where remount stallions 

 stand. 



