HOESES IN PRUSSIA. 79 



well-shaped, general-purpose horses, and 2,000 carriage horses. They 

 began then- present business only last December, having just com- 

 pleted their stables, and in one month sold 300 American" horses. 



The cab horses of Berlin and other large cities in the Empire come 

 from Prussia, and are the inferior animals of that country, not fit for 

 army use. They are too low in price and too inferior in quality to 

 interest the American breeders. One indication that the Germans 

 like our horses is the fact that nearly all we import to that country 

 remain there, and, as before stated, many find their way to the Ger- 

 man markets after being landed at other ports. This is evident from 

 the fact that our Government reports show Germany to have taken 

 from us in 1895 but 1,324 horses, while the German yearbook for 

 that year shows she received duties paid on American horses num- 

 bering 2,479, being 1,155 more than we give Germany credit with that 

 year. The duty imposed by the German Government on all foreign 

 horses is 20 marks, or about $5 per head. 



While Germany imported over 100,000 in 1895, she exported but 

 7,980. 



I shall not occupy much space in commenting on the cavalry horses 

 of Germany, except to state where they are purchased and the aver- 

 age prices paid for them. The description of the cavalry horses of Eng- 

 land, France, and Belgium substantially corresponds with the require- 

 ments of Germany, but from what I can learn they are using in the 

 latter place, for their light cavalry, a little lighter horse then is desired 

 in other countries, though the heavier cavalry of Germany is mounted 

 on horses that have few equals for that purpose in the world. The 

 most of the cavalry horses in the German army come from east and 

 west Prussia, some coming from Hanover and Holstein. 



The Prussian horse is not a large horse, but is possessed of much 

 blood, and if the weights given me by the United States consul-gen- 

 eral at Berlin are correct the horses are lighter in weight than those 

 used for the same purposes in the other countries I have mentioned. 



I am indebted to the consul-general for a copy of the consular 

 report for 1897, from which I quote briefly. 



The horses purchased are generally 3 years old, only exceptionally 4 years. The 

 former remain one year at the remounts depots before they are turned over to the 

 reeular service. Officers, as a rule, tray east Prussian horses; those who can 



fEord it hay English blooded stock. The best Prussian horses bring from $225 to 



<rM0 These however, are bought at an age of from 5 to 6 years, and well trained, 



' ially since the Prussian horse is hardly fit for use before its sixth year is 



conclude . ^ norseSj which are bought largely in Hamburg, are, owing to 



Engnsn riglimeIl t which they receive on their native pastures in their 



the richer noun ^ age f 4 to 5 years, and are less nervous, shy, and 



younger V™™'™ ^L ian an imals. The Irish horse is the easiest to ride under 

 excitable than tne r who i e some nourishment giving it a calmer and more 



all circumstances, the eany wu 



docile temper. under the name of Irish stock many American 



I have reason t0 J )ell 3 the description given of them closely resembles 



horses are sold » ttarno ui gi "° 



