266 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



transferred from the infantry to the cavalry are generally sent to this school for a short time at 

 least. 



The veterinary surgeons of the lowest grade are sent here upon their first appointment to 

 receive instruction in equitation, to profit by the study of the model stud, and to learn the 

 routine of their duties with the regiments ; they form a se^Darate class, under the direction of 

 the stud. In the Model Stud, (Haras des Etudes,) the number of animals varies. There are 

 usually two stallions and about twenty mares, in addition to those selected from time to time 

 from among the riding animals. At the time of my visit one of the stallions was a superb 

 Arab ; among the mares were Arabs, English, Norman, &c. Each animal has a box about 15' 

 square. 



The object of this establishment is explained in the " decree." Attached to it is a botanical 

 garden, more especially for useful and noxious grasses and plants. 



The horses of the school are divided into two sets — one for the riding hall, the other for 

 military drills ; there are about 240 of the former and 600 of the latter. The former are groomed 

 by hired men, the others by soldiers of the remount companies, who do not belong to any 

 regiment. 



Each man has four horses to take care of, and has nothing else to do. The horses at the 

 school have a somewhat larger allowance of forage than in the regiments, and are far better 

 animals than the majority in the service. 



SCHOOL FOE BEEAKING YOUNG HOESES. 



The object of this establishment is explained in the decree. The best horses purchased at the 

 remount depots are selected for the ofiicers, and sent to this place to be trained. 



A school for trumpeters existed at Saumur prior to the war ; soon after the commencement of 

 the war it was broken up, to the regret of all the ofiicers. 



SCHOOL OF FAEEIEES. 



This is attached to the cavalry school, and is under the direction of Ihe commandant. Private 

 soldiers who have served at least six months with their regiments, and are blacksmiths or horse 

 shoers by trade, compose this school. There are usually two men from each mounted regiment; 

 during the war the number was reduced to one from each regiment. The course lasts two 

 years. It comprises reading, writing, arithmetic, equitation, the anatomy of the horse, 

 thorough instruction as to all diseases, injuries, and deformities of the foot, something of the 

 veterinary art in general, the selection of metals, making shoes, nails, tools, &c., shoeing horses. 



The printed work on farriery (Cours de Marechalerie, a Saumur) gives the course as taught. 



This establishment has a large shoeing shop and yard, with some 12 or 15 forges, a recitation 

 room, museum, and store rooms. In the recitation room there are skeletons of horses, men, 

 &c. , as well as some admirable specimens of natural preparations in comparative anatomy, a 

 complete collection of shoeing tools, specimens of many kinds of shoes, &c. 



In a recitation of the lowest section I heard a very good explanation of the skeleton, muscles, 

 foot, process of shoeing, use of the "perpendiculars," &c., from different pupils. 



This school has been in existence since 1826, and has produced most satisfactory results. 

 Since that year the census returns have shown, it is stated, a diminution of 40 per cent, in the 

 number of lame horses in France — a result attributed to the good instruction spread through the 

 country by means of this school, for the pupils, upon leaving the service, generally establish 

 themselves as farriers in their native villages. 



