78 
PURCHASE OF CAVALRY HORSES. 
culated for Cavalry purposes to our Agricultural Shows is 
one which we think would too much interfere with the fun- 
damental principles of these exhibitions. Much doubtless 
may be said in support of either view of the matter. We 
cannot^ however, on this occasion; enter further upon this 
subject; and will therefore content ourselves by giving the 
extract in question.] 
“ The difficulty experienced in procuring horses to mount 
our cavalry has invoked serious consideration in various 
quarters. In the September number of this publication I 
referred to it, at the same time proposing an augmentation 
of price. That plan has been adopted upon a sliding scale. 
Thirty-tw r o pounds is now authorised to be given for five 
years old horses, and forty pounds for six, seven, and eight 
years old. Whether this wdll be found quite a judicious 
arrangement the sequel will prove. It would be more in 
conformity with practical experience of the value of working 
horses, if the maximum price had been accorded to five, six, 
and seven-year-olds, and a reduction made in the price for 
eight-year-olds ; but such is the imperative demand for effec- 
tive animals, that prices will not, it is expected, be very scru- 
pulously adhered to, providing the qualifications are equiva- 
lent. The demand is enhanced by commissioners from the 
French Government, who are willing to advance upon our 
regulation prices. I have recently given the subject much 
attention, and, with the most profound respect, will offer a 
suggestion to encourage farmers to breed horses for the 
especial purpose of mounting the troops. The proposal is, 
that premiums be given by Government for the best horses 
exhibited at the meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England, and at other influential agricultural meetings, 
on the following terms : — -Fifty pounds for the best horse 
calculated for the use of the regiments of Life Guards; 
thirty pounds for the best horse calculated for the Artillery 
and Dragoon regiments ; and twenty pounds for the best 
horse calculated for the use of the light cavalry regiments ; 
with the proviso that any horse entered for competition 
should be subject to the claim of Government at the regula- 
tion price of the class for which he is adapted ; and the 
eligibility of the horse for the class in which his owner pro- 
poses to enter to be determined by the Government inspec- 
tor, giving the owner the option of withdrawing from com- 
petition in the event of his not approving the class which 
may be assigned to his horse. This would be a means of 
bringing a great number of’ horses together, and save great 
expense of officers of regiments and agents attending fairs in 
