BREEDS OF HORSES 43 



level, short back and be closely coupled. His legs and quarters 

 should be well muscled, croup not drooping, and he should carry 

 a long, flowing tail (sometimes spoken of as a water spout tail). 



Action. The action of a Five Gaited horse should be free, easy 

 and frictionless with no inclination to mix in his gaits. The walk 

 and trot should be bold and vigorous, the stride of good length but 

 not unduly long, and quick to recover. The action need not be ex- 

 tremely high but he should keep his feet well under his body at all 

 times so there will be little danger of stumbling or falling in case he 

 should slip. The running-walk is discriminated against by some as 

 it is claimed to be conducive to stumbling. The rack should be 

 regular and rhythmical of the one, two, three, four order and should 

 not have side motion in either feet, legs or body, which produces 

 roughness when going fast. In cantering the horse should be taught 

 to lead with either leg and go slow or fast according to the pleasure 

 of the rider. 



Demand. The demand for Five Gaited horses is good and 

 comes from pleasure seeking equestrians, cattlemen, army officers, 

 and people looking for easy riding horses. They are produced 

 largely by the use of pure bred American Saddle horse stock, especi- 

 ally on the sire's side, most of them being bred in Missouri, Ken- 

 tucky, Southern Illinois, Indiana, and some in other states. 



CAVALRY HORSES. 



American horses have made good records for themselves as 

 faithful and enduring servants in rank and file, not only in the 

 American navy but in the British army as well. During the Span- 

 ish-American AVar remounts of Uncle Sam's troups which were sent 

 to the Philippine Islands stood service so well under trying condi- 

 tions that the British Government was attracted to them. When 

 the South African war broke out the English Government executed 

 large orders for American horses to be sent to South Africa as Troop- 

 ers. Here they maintained their supremacy and as a result large 

 numbers have been taken to England where they came in competi- 

 tion with English horses on their native soil. 



Many of the Cavalry horses selected for export have been range 

 bred and not of the best type and conformation. In comparison 

 with the Cavalry horses selected by the United States Government 

 for army use most of them would grade as common and medium, 

 and a few grade as good. The Quartermaster General of the war 

 department has sent out the following specifications as the require- 

 ments for an American Cavalry horse: 



The Cavalry horse must be sound, well bred, of a superior class, 

 and have quality ; gentle and of a kind disposition ; thoroughly 

 broken to the saddle, with light and elastic mouth, easy gaits, and 

 free and prompt action at the walk, trot, and gallop ; also free from 

 vicious habits, without material blemish or defect ; and otherwise to 

 conform to the following description: A gelding of uniform and 

 hardy color, in good condition ; from four to eight years old ; weigh- 

 ing from 950 to 1,100 pounds, depending on height, which should be 

 from 15 to 15-3 hands. 



