SWITZERLAND. 337 



short; back straight; loins arched and muscled; the croup 

 substantial and approaching the horizontal; chest large and 

 deep ; the legs and fetlocks strong ; unbound tendons ; good 

 feet. White horses of too striking appearance are rejected, 

 unless the purchase is justified by excellent qualities. The 

 height should be not less than 15 hands nor more than 15| 

 hands; age not less than 4 years nor more than 6 years. 

 Mares and geldings are accepted. 



The horses are shipped to the depot at Bern, where they 

 become acclimatized before they are given any hard work. 

 They are then given a course of training involving about four 

 months' time, in which they are exercised at the walk, trot, 

 gallop, and in jumping hurdles. They are trained also to 

 work in harness, that they may be useful to the owner in 

 agricultural labor. For this purpose the necessary number 

 of trainers is employed. When the training is completed the 

 horses are inspected by the chef d'arme, the chief instructor, 

 and the chief veterinarian. Any that are found fractious, 

 near-sighted, blind, wind-broken, stiff, or incurably diseased 

 are returned to the depot either for treatment, or, if found 

 permanently disqualified for service, for sale. Horses when 

 first purchased are branded on the near fore foot; those 

 accepted for assignment to recruits are branded also with 

 the year and the federal cross on the off side of the neck and 

 with the number on the near side of the neck. Horses con- 

 demned to be sold are branded on the left ear. 



.The horses intended for enlisted men are arranged, accord- 

 ing to appraised values, into four classes. The classes cor- 

 respond to four values, S312, $373, $234, and $195. The 

 horses intended for officers are appraised at $351. These 

 values are calculated to cover the first cost of the horses, the 

 transportation, acclimatization, and training, in other words, 

 to cover the expenses of the remount depot. 



A descriptive book accompanies each mount issued. This 

 book must be presented at all subsequent inspections of the 

 horse. The inspector notes therein the horse's condition and 

 any other pertinent remarks. 



Provision is made for returning horses to the depot for 

 further training or for exchange when, after reasonable trial, 

 they are found unsound, vicious, or in any other way unfit 



