[QUOTE=Daydream Believer;6383400]
That’s really interesting Guilherme…thanks for sharing. I was going to say earlier that I know of a lot of people who have really loaded down the smaller Spanish Mustangs with no problem. I was afraid of getting flamed so I didn’t say anything until now. They are typically solid with good bone and short backs and can carry some weight. One of our young mares last summer carried about 27% of her weight for two days of hard riding up at Mt. Rogers. We lent her to a friend for the weekend and she did absolutely fine. Historical information is fascinating to me and it often does shoot modern notions completely down.
Guilherme…correct me if I’m wrong… but wasn’t the cavalry horse early on through the mid to late 1800’s and indian war era a horse of mainly morgan or (Spanish type) mustang blood crossed with some TB to add size? They intentionally crossed to the Remount TB stallions to get more size but wanted the bone and substance of the smaller sturdier breeds. Comanche, Capt. Keogh’s horse was a good example I think. Knowing also that early TB’s were not much like todays light boned bad hooved critters…that had to make some difference.
Thanks to all of you again for sharing. Great discussion![/QUOTE]
Good conformation and good riding are the keys to long term soundness. You don’t want to load up a horse with junk you don’t need, but kilos, alone, are not really the issue.
As to type, you could start a pretty good fist fight in a 19th Century cavalry officer’s club over what type of horse was best as a cavalry mount. The Europeans, who had a strong influence on the U.S. Cavalry through Samur, favored a “TB/WB type” horse. That type was called, oddly enough, the “American” horse. That type was quite appropriate to Europe, particularly Northern and Central Europe. East of the Big Muddy that was the type favored by the U.S. Out West that type did not work out as well, and a more “native” type of horse was generally used. In those days the Quarter Master was responsible for providing mounts, but the Regimental Commander decided what he’d accept from the QM. Agents were typically hired to find remounts. It was a system rife with corruption. One of the Army’s big failures in the Spanish American War was the Cavalry. It was an embarrassment and it lead to the establishment of the Remount Service.
When large herds of Indian horses were captured they were generally disposed of by giving significant numbers to the Indian and civilian scouts/teamsters/others and putting the rest down. They were seldom, if ever, incorporated into a regiment. This speaks volumes about what at least senior officers thought of the “native” stock.
The Army also bought few, if any, “mustangs.” If they found an “American” horse with a herd a mustanger would try for it 'cause it was worth more money. The rest would fit nicely in the lines of an old cowboy songs that sings of the “Ten Dollar horse and Forty Dollar saddle.” 
For most Army officers it was the type that counted. Few thought much of the “native” horse although they were willing to use them as required. But when the need for that type of horse was done (at the end of the Indian Wars) they were abandoned.
Note that one reason the Army could use the “American” horse even in the West was that the Army had a logistics system capable of supporting it in the field. The Indians generally saw “war” and “battle” as synonyms. They did not understand the concept of the “campaign.” So the Army would go after the Indians in the winter, when forage was scarce. The Army carried forage and fodder with them. The Indian could not do this. This would, ultimately, break the back of Indian resistance on the Plains.
As to Morgans and Arabians, a number were donated to the Army by very wealthy and influential people (including Dr. Kellogg of corn flake fame). The Army accepted the donations, established farms for them, and then ignored them. The Morgans did find some favor with the Artillery, as they could both ride and drive and for light guns were very suitable. The Arabians found favor with a few officers, but that’s about it. The Remount Service was 90% TB types, with a smattering of “others” (including exactly one ASB 
).
G.
