330 REMOUNT SYSTEMS OF FOREIGN ARMIES. 



also trains and supplies horses for the field artillery. These 

 horses are purchased during the first months of the year, and 

 are used during that year at the recruit schools for light 

 artillery. In the autumn they are appraised and sold at 

 auction, to natives only, on condition that they be well cared 

 for and returned to the recruit stations, for use in a recruit 

 school, at such times as called for each year, for the three 

 following years. After that they become the absolute prop- 

 erty of the purchaser. If the bids on any horse are less than 

 his appraised value he is not sold, but is held for a future 

 auction. For the use of his horse at recruit schools, etc., a 

 purchaser is paid, while the animal is in service, from two to 

 four francs per day. In this way the government has, for 

 use in the instruction of the light-artillery recruits, and for 

 service during the cours de repetition, as well as at other 

 times, a supply of fairly well trained horses. All horses for 

 the artillery and trains, whenever required, are hired from 

 civilians. The owners are paid the rates established by the 

 government. The horses are examined by a board of veter- 

 inary surgeons three times, namely, upon delivery, then two 

 days after delivery, and, finally, upon being returned to the 

 owners. Upon the reports of this board damages are paid by 

 the government. Besides the 100 horses bought each year 

 for the regie and intended for the artillery, and for officers, 

 there are purchased about 800 horses every year for the 

 cavalry. 



Last year there were bought for the cavalry : 



Foreign horses 793 



Swiss horses ..- 4 



Horses furnished by soldiers 5 



Horses furnished by soldiers to replace their lost horses 2 



Total 804 



The foreign horses are bought and inspected by a board, 

 which is composed of the chef d'arme, chief veterinarian, and 

 usually also the commandant of the depot, and which, to 

 make the purchases, is sent abroad. Of late years the horses 

 have been bought in Ireland, northern Germany, or Hungary, 

 as the markets have seemed most favorable. 



Specifications for Horses. — Active temperament; neck 

 shapely and of medium length; withers prominent; barrel 



