38 
Half-bred  Horses  for  Field  or  Road : 
realised  at  auction  was  10/.  19s.  10£tZ.  Tlie  average  price  paid 
for  remounts,  with  incidental  expenses,  was  45/.  6s.  3c?.  De- 
ducting the  sum  realised  for  cast  horses,  and  allowing  for 
deaths,  each  remount  costs  Government  38/.  3s.  9c?.  The 
number  of  deaths,  died,  and  destroyed,  was  301,  or  2*57  per 
cent.  Their  average  length  of  service  was  5 years  6 months. 
This  country  could  not  meet  any  sudden  large  demand  for 
horses  without  seriously  interfering  with  the  traffic.  Enhanced 
prices  would  bring  a considerable  number  into  the  market,  but 
there  is  no  large  floating  surplus  ; horses  are  bred  up  to  the 
requirements  of  the  average  demand.  If  we  wanted  8000  to 
10,000  horses — no  unusual  number  for  modern  wars — we  should 
have  to  go  abroad  for  them,  probably  to  America,  Germany, 
Hungary,  France,  &c.  Whilst  for  pack-saddle  transport,  we 
should  have  for  our  mules  to  depend  entirely  on  foreign  supply. 
During  the  Canadian  Rebellion  in  1838,  the  late  Sir  George 
Cathcart  mounted  the  heavy  men  of  the  King’s  Dragoon  Guards 
on  Canadian  and  American  horses ; his  experience  on  that 
occasion  has  often  been  cited,  but  never  before  given  in  his 
own  words.  Subsequently  the  Canadian  horses  of  one  squadron 
of  the  regiment  were  brought  to  England. 
“ I had  [July  1838]  my  veterinary  surgeon  and  Mr.  Hammers- 
ley  in  the  Upper  Province  of  Canada  purchasing  horses.  We 
have  also  very  good  horses,  bought  in  the  United  States.  I put 
the  Canadians  and  Americans  into  the  ranks  as  soon  as  possible, 
taking  care  the  best  riders  had  the  worst-broken  mounts.  Every 
morning,  five  to  seven,  we  have  Adjutants’  drill,  and  I am  always 
there.  In  three  weeks  we  made  the  horses  do  everything  essential 
for  service.  Yesterday  I had  my  first  field-day  with  officers 
out.  My  horses  do  not  equal  the  English  in  power  and  vigour ; 
but  their  appearance,  their  temper,  and  their  action,  is  superior 
to  the  average  English  trooper.  Their  shoulders  are  beautiful, 
so  well  back  and  light,  and  a broken  knee  is  not  to  be  found. 
I think  we  are  better  mounted  than  any  foreign  cavalry  I ever 
saw,  except  those  who  had  Hungarian  or  the  better  sort  of 
Polish  horses.  You  and  I [that  is  the  old  Lord,  his  father] 
have  often  seen,  with  a Murat  at  their  head,  much  worse  mounted 
cavalry  do  great  things.”  * 
Mit.  Sawrey-Cookson. 
My  best  acknowledgments  are  due  to  Mr.  Sawrey-Cookson  ; t 
he  heartily  and  promptly  entered  into  my  views.  In  ‘ Baily’s 
* Memoir  of  General  Sir  George  Cathcart  in  MS.  Much  on  subject  of 
Canadian  Horses  for  Army  purposes  in  Report,  Lords’  Committee. — C. 
t Mr.  James  Sawrey-Cookson,  Neashain  Hall,  Darlington.  He  judged  horses 
for  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  at  Newcastle,  as  long  ago  as  1SG4. 
