CAVALRY HORSES AND HUNTERS. 63 



the regiments. Mares are used the same as horses. I quote verbatim 

 the answer of the inspector-general of remounts to the following ques- 

 tion : "What are the chief faults found in our American horses-viewed 

 for cavalry purposes?" Answer: "Big coarse head, long back, flat 

 sides, broad ragged hips, weak loins, long legs, no arms or thighs, 

 hocks very close, enormous feet, generally very flat, and prone to 

 laminitis." 



The number of horses purchased annually in the United Kingdom 

 for cavalry and artillery purposes varies from 1,500 to 2,000, and the 

 prices range from $150 to $200. There are now in use for war pur- 

 poses in Great Britain between 15,000 and 20,000 horses, and no diffi- 

 culty is experienced in supplying the demand from Ireland each year. 

 Here the best cavalry horse is bred from the hunting horse, which is 

 almost thoroughbred. 



There is no ditty imposed upon the horses England imports, and 

 the only requirement on landing is that they pass veterinary inspec- 

 tion for contagious diseases. 



As the above information comes from the inspector-general of 

 remounts, I have given the same substantially as communicated. 

 Accepting it as correct, we have as yet made little progress in intro- 

 ducing our American horses into English armies, and can with greater 

 ease and certainty supply a larger and more valuable market. 



THE HUNTER. 



Having spoken of the Irish hunter as a horse which it is not prac- 

 ticable for us to attempt to raise, except, perhaps to a very limited 

 degree, I will add that he is one of the most highly appreciated horses 

 in England. In type he is a thoroughbred, but in size and general 

 conformation the best ones are much larger and stronger than thor- 

 oughbreds. No carriage action is required of him, and his jumping 

 and running qualities are the most essential features, besides his 

 power to carry weight. Perhaps the half-bred hunter combines more 

 of the required essentials than any other kind, though upon this point 

 there is a diversity of opinion. They differ from the American thor- 

 oughbred in that they have much more strength and are much larger 

 if very valuable. They are often required to carry a rider weigh- 

 ing 250 pounds, and run and jump with him for many hours in suc- 

 cession. These are the qualities that render the hunter valuable, and 

 it is not infrequent that this horse, with 'all the qualities of the thor- 

 oughbred, and in fact almost thoroughbred, stands 16 hands 2 inches 

 to 17 hands high. One of this kind properly trained to follow the 

 hounds often sells to a gentleman of heavy weight who enjoys the 

 chase for $2,000 to $3,000. 



Having said that horses of this type, almost or entirely thorough- 

 bred, have been produced of large size, the question, Why is this not 

 the horse to raise high-class carriage horses from? may arise in the 

 minds of some. I will therefore anticipate the question and answer 



