222 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



are not so -aniform in size, gaits, and other qualities as those 

 influenced by the governmental breeding. 



The saddle horses in general may be said to belong to two 

 distinct types, the Galician and the Hungarian breeds. The 

 Galician horse is perhaps, for army use, superior to the Hun- 

 garian. This is due in part to the fact that the animals pur- 

 chased by the remount commissions in Hungary, owing to 

 the low buying price, are seldom of the iirst class. The best 

 animals go to other countries, which make extensive pur- 

 chases in Hungary. The Hungarian horse is, nevertheless, 

 a remarkable cavalry horse. He has an excellent back and 

 loins, perfect legs and feet, a large neck, and much style. A 

 striking trait is also the extraordinary uniformity of the type 

 of the various animals influenced by the breeding establish- 

 ments. Both types of horses are extraordinarily gentle, 

 which results from the absence of brutality in their treatment. 



As for the stallions sent by the various breeding stables to 

 the hunts at Holies, they are noted, when the hunts are over, 

 by their riders, who are army officers, as to their endurance, 

 ability, condition of breathing organs, etc. These notes are 

 considered when the stallions are distributed to the breeding 

 stations, and an unfavorable report may lead to the animal's 

 being put out of service. 



The training of the horses for the army begins at 4 years. 

 It is conducted with the greatest method and is very extended. 

 In addition to the military institute at Vienna, each cavalry 

 brigade has a riding school, where officers are taught the 

 principles and practice of training troop horses. This assures 

 great uniformity in the service. A peculiarity of the riding 

 to be mentioned is that all men are provided with a small 

 rattan switch f of a yard in length, which is carried when 

 mounted, excepting dress occasions. This does away with 

 the touches of the spur, which are, especially among mares, 

 frequent causes of restlessness. 



At the military institute the instruction does not stop with 

 the riding school and training, the young lieutenants being 

 sent during the months of September, October, and Novem- 

 ber to the hunts at Holies. For this purpose the emperor 

 puts at the disposal of the institute his mansion, which has 

 accommodations for a great number of officers, and stables 

 for 300 horses. The royal breeding stables of the monarchy 

 furnish about 150 stallions, chosen from the animals of 8 or 9 



