282 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



season is over each year the stallions are brought back again 

 to the stallion depots. 



The breeding stables, stallion depots, and stations are all 

 "Under the management of the ministry of agriculture, and are 

 in no way connected with the war ministry or the army. 



The breeding stable of Trakehnen was established in 1T25. 

 It has a domain of 10,000 acres, and comprises 13 farms where 

 stallions, colts, and brood mares are kept. The stables now 

 have 15 stallions, 350 mares, and 730 colts of different ages. 

 Among the stallions are 10 first-class English thoroughbreds; 

 their average cost price was 817,850. The well known Tra- 

 kehnen breed of horses is about one-half English blood, 

 one-quarter Arabian, and one-quarter blood of the ancient 

 coursers of the Teutonic order of knights who raised with great 

 care and success their steeds in East Prussia during the thir- 

 teenth and fourteenth centuries. These horses are suitable 

 for all the services, and make remarkable saddle horses and 

 carriage horses. The finest products go into the emperor's 

 stables. Mares of private persons are also served at the sta- 

 bles. The stables possessed two Arabian stallions, but they 

 were recently discharged, as their product lacked size. There 

 are, however, at the stables, four Arabian mares, which give 

 fine products. The few officers who possess these horses men- 

 tion them with pride. All the stallion depots have a certain 

 number of Trakehnen horses. At 3 years of age the stallions 

 are divided into two classes, the principal stallions, which are 

 to serve in the breeding stables, and the stallions of the coun- 

 try, which are sent to the stallion depots. 



The breeding stables of Graditz have an area of 7,500 acres. 

 They contain seven stallions, among which is Chamont, bought 

 at the price of $32,000. 



In addition to the stallions raised, the government purchases 

 about 200 stallions each year. 



The effectives of all the government stables of Prussia are, 

 for the principal breeding stables, 35 stallions, 640 brood mares, 

 and 2,000 colts; for the stallion depots, 2,250 stallions; 4,925 

 animals in all. The price charged for covering mares is from 

 50 cents at some of the stations to $100 at some of the breed- 

 ing stables. The ordinary price through the country is about 

 $1. All htDrses have foal certificates. They are not inbred. 

 Stallions are not lent to civilian horse raisers ; their services 

 are paid for. 



