276 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



While at the depots, the young horses are systematically 

 exercised in so-called ' ' movement grounds, " inclosed grounds, 



21 to 26 yards wide, and from 825 to 1,250 yards long, and 

 oval in shape. They are daily for two hours driven on these 

 grounds in bunches of 100 head each, at moderate paces (slow 

 trot and gallop ) with front and rear herders. They thus obtain 

 free step, develop muscle, good hoofs, and healthy internal 

 organs, and acquire a certain discipline. 



Immediately after purchase the horses are branded on the 

 left side of the neck with the year. After the transfer of 

 the horses from the remount depots to the regiments, they are 

 branded on the left hip with the regimental brand, from 

 which, in an abbreviated form, the regiment to which they 

 belong may be seen: D4, U6, A3, etc. The brands, how- 

 ever, are not placed over others, such as those of breeding 

 stables, etc. 



In the army the average length of service of horses of the 

 cavalry and train is ten years, of field artillery nine years, 

 and of the military riding institute from seven to eight years. 



There is no regulation fixing the length of time that a horse 

 may serve in the army. A great number of them are dis- 

 charged between 14 and 15 years of age. This matter is left 

 entirely with the squadron commander, who may allow them 

 to stay in the service up to the age of 20 years. In a few of 

 the organizations particular horses are allowed to stay until 



22 years of age, which is the extreme limit. The number of 

 animals to be annually received in each organization is fixed, 

 varying only in consequence of more or fewer horses being 

 selected for officers' chargers. As a result a squadron com- 

 mander having received his allowance (which is 10 per cent 

 of his authorized strength), say 13 horses, in July, will not 

 have more than 13 altogether sold and discharged after the 

 fall maneuvers, although he may have more in his squadron 

 that should be discharged. For instance, if a horse dies he 

 is not replaced, but the squadron commander, in order to 

 keep the number at the authorized limit, discharges one horse 

 less. If a captain is compelled to condemn more horses than 

 he has received from the remount, the deficit continues dur- 

 ing the year, and the number of the effective files of the 

 squadron for the time being is reduced. If a horse becomes 

 unfit for service, and the squadron commander judges it 

 impossible to keep him in the ranks, he reports the fact to 



