§ COLONEL O'BEIRNEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any 471 orders have yet been issued to Cavalry Regiments stationed in the United Kingdom to cast horses over 16 years of age, and pronounced unfit for service; whether it is a fact that several Cavalry Regiments are at present ineffective on account of the number of aged and useless horses in the ranks; and, if any, and what, portion of the £40,000 voted under Vote 1, Army Estimates, for the purchase of Cavalry remounts, has been expended in the purchase of aged and worn out horses?
MR. BRANDSir, under the Queen's Regulations, horses of 15 years and upwards may be brought forward for casting at the annual inspection. Horses declared unfit for the Service may be cast at any age. It cannot be said that any regiment is ineffective on account of the number of aged and useless horses in it; but there are always in every regiment at home some horses too young and some too old for active service, which, if the regiment took the field, would have to be replaced by transfers from other corps. Aged and worn-out horses are never bought for remounts.