122 ANIMALS USED IN WAR. 



Our Field Service Eegulations and systems now, however, 

 include War Diaries and the submission of Departmental and 

 Technical Eeports and Returns, and it is possible therefrom to 

 collate a reasonably accurate account of the doings of all animals, 

 of mortality and inefficiency experienced, and to draw conclu- 

 sions therefrom. One's own personal experience also must 

 necessarily be brought to account. 



Nothing has ever equalled our Irish horses for Cavalry work. 

 They are a class by themselves, and we are fortunate in having 

 so favourable a country as Ireland for the production of light 

 horses. It is to be hoped that the industry of light horse 

 breeding in Ireland will be encouraged in every waj'. It is really 

 an advantage that purchasers from other countries and armies 

 go there for horses. It encourages production, and it shows the 

 esteem in which Irish bred horses are held. 



Cavalry, and particularly in respect to the aj-me hlanche, 

 unfortunately did not take so prominent a part in France as in 

 previous wars, or as in Palestine ; but the merit of our Cavalry 

 horses cannot be gainsaid. They leave nothing to be desired. 

 It was extraordinary how well those advanced in years, and 

 even old, stood the campaign, and the old rule of excluding 

 animals over twelve years of age for war has been exploded- 

 The limit of age is determined by the animal's physical ability, 

 and it is sufficient for the animal to show it. For riding 

 purposes, and particularly for fast Cavalry work, the Thorough-, 

 bred Sire is essential — whatever the foundation stock is ; and 

 where Debility and Exhaustion are the chief cause of inefficiency 

 and wastage, it goes without saying that the stout, compact, 

 robust animal with good back and loin is the type required. 

 Wastage in Cavalry during the W^r in France was much less 

 from lameness than from Debility and poor condition associated 

 with the adverse circumstances obtaining. 



A propos of the purchase of Irish horses for Cavalry and 

 riding purposes, I should like to refer to the old cry that the 

 foreigners were taking the best mares out of the country, and 

 which from my experience of remount purchasing in that 

 country I, personally, considered very much of a bogey cry. It 

 may not be generally known that 75 per cent, of Cavalry troop 

 horses are mares. Why ? Because, apart from the fact that 



