KEPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 123 



and drilled by tlie old soldiers, under the direction of the ca^jtain commanding. The Eussians 

 have nothing corresponding to the "captain instructor" of the French service. 



Horses are purchased at the age of from three to five years ; those purchased at three years 

 old are not used for a year or more. 



About eight years' service is expected of a horse. 



Eemount horses enter the squadron at from four months to one year from the commencement 

 of their drilling ; depending upon the age of the animal, his disposition, &c. 



Mares are preferred as a general rule, but geldings and stallions are also used; and it is stated 

 that no particular inconvenience is found to result from the employment of stallions. 



The horses being once assigned, always remain with the same men. Officers purchase their 

 own horses, and are allowed forage, or a commutation therefor. 



EIDING HOUSES. 



These are numerous, large, and well constructed. 



The windows are usually arranged as in the French ; Eussian stoves are freely used for 

 warming them. 



The floor is of earth and sand. There is a wooden wainscot lining, about six feet high, and 

 havinsc an inclination of about ? ; the corners not rounded oif. 



The riding house of the chevalier guard, in St. Petersburg, is 300' long, 95' wide, and 25' 

 ceiling. One near the Paul palace is 595' long, 126' wide, and 25' ceiling. The great riding 

 house at Moscow is much larger. The two latter are used for drills and inspections during the 

 winter. There are no pillars in any of these. 



STABLES, &c. 



There is nothing remarkable in the Eussian stables. The floors are generally of plank, a little 

 straw being kept under- the horses fore feet during the day ; in some stables the floor is of clay. 



As a general rule, the simple swinging bar is used to separate the stalls ; sometimes there is 

 no division whatever ; for wicked stallions the stalls are boarded up. 



In many cases they use no hay rack ; merely a long wooden trough, one end of which is 

 divided off for the oats. 



In some cases they use wooden or iron racks and mangers. 



In some stables a bin is arranged for the litter, under the manger ; in others it is kept in the 

 stable yard, under cover. 



The saddles, bridles, and other equipments, are usually kept in the stables ; the bridles being 

 hung on pins attached to the stall posts; the saddles, blanket, &c., on a shelf extending 

 between the heel posts. 



Some of their stalls are six feet wide ; as a general rule they are quite large. The stables are 

 well ventilated, and kept in good order. 



In some stables the quarters for the men are in the 2d story, over the stables. 



The horse hospitals are usually in separate buildings, with separate box stalls, (about 

 9' X T',) boilers for making mashes, &c. 

 . The horses are cleaned twice a day, watered twice or thrice, and fed three times. 



The daily ration for a light cavalry horse is 9 pounds of hay, 11 quarts (13f pounds) of oats, 

 3 pounds of straw. The heavy cavalry horses receive 2 quarts of oats more than the light 

 cavalry. 



