What is a broken down horse?

[JerryD]

Reading a book about Stuart's ride during the Gettysburg Campaign, and I ran across a phrase I have seen many times before, a "broken down horse". What exactly is a broken down horse? Is this another way to say lame? Or is it just tired and hungry? And how long to unbreak it?

 

[TheRealMrHoward]

Well I'm not an expert, but I have some experience with horses and I have read lots of cavalry books...

I would think a broken down horse in this context would be...

1. "Galled up" i.e. sores where saddle has rubbed it raw, prevents horse from being ridden

2. Thrown a shoe or two no replacements to be had.

3. Exhausted or "played out" and unable to be prodded to move.

4. And the more obvious onset of lameness, sore/inflamed tendons, etc

Most of the time a little R&R plus veterinary attention will resolve most issues. Of course this would not be practicable on a raid and those horse would be culled.

 

[John Winn]

Dinner.

 

[Sheltowee]

Well I'm not an expert, but I have some experience with horses and I have read lots of cavalry books...

I would think a broken down horse in this context would be...

1. "Galled up" i.e. sores where saddle has rubbed it raw, prevents horse from being ridden

2. Thrown a shoe or two no replacements to be had.

3. Exhausted or "played out" and unable to be prodded to move.

4. And the more obvious onset of lameness, sore/inflamed tendons, etc

Most of the time a little R&R plus veterinary attention will resolve most issues. Of course this would not be practicable on a raid and those horse would be culled.

Sounds correct to me- maybe severe exhaustion and malnutrition can be added.

But not not be confused with modern day references of a race horse "breaking down". This typically means a traumatic leg injury (break) requiring euthanasia.

 

[Sheltowee]

Sounds correct to me- maybe severe exhaustion and malnutrition can be added.

But not not be confused with modern day references of a race horse "breaking down". This typically means a traumatic leg injury (break) requiring euthanasia.

Oops a saw exhaustion on there. Apologies

 

[jackt62]

I come across the term "broken down horse" in almost every account dealing with cavalry operations in the CW. But I have never actually seen a precise definition of the term. From what I have read, horses in that condition were medically unfit for cavalry service, but that could range from anything to a specific malady or lameness, or more often, simply overuse and overwork, rendering the animal useless. The remedy, depending on the condition, might be just rest and recuperation with proper forage and care, to discharging the animal from service.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

A horse that can no longer keep up with the rest of the troop for any reason

 

[John Hartwell]

Reconditioning broken down horses, see:

Confederate Horse Infirmary, Laurens County Georgia, 1864 | Four Footed Friends

[Macon Telegraph, January 30, 1864]

civilwartalk.com

There were others, of course, on both sides.

 

[JerryD]

Well I'm not an expert, but I have some experience with horses and I have read lots of cavalry books...

I would think a broken down horse in this context would be...

1. "Galled up" i.e. sores where saddle has rubbed it raw, prevents horse from being ridden

2. Thrown a shoe or two no replacements to be had.

3. Exhausted or "played out" and unable to be prodded to move.

4. And the more obvious onset of lameness, sore/inflamed tendons, etc

Most of the time a little R&R plus veterinary attention will resolve most issues. Of course this would not be practicable on a raid and those horse would be culled.

So its basically a catch all phrase for any number of ailments that means the horse can't be ridden anymore. Thanks!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

'Broken down' would suggest to me, a meaning of unable to function or continue, due say to weakness or poor condition.

This would be distinct from injury (eg lameness), wounding or death to the animal.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Horses, the forgotten casualties of the Civil War
By Ned Jilton II
[email protected]
Jan 12, 2022

More than 650,000 soldiers died during the Civil War. But that number pales next to the 1.5 million horses and mules that were killed. Horses were essential to both armies. They were used by the cavalry and the artillery. They were used to transport wagonloads of wounded from the field. Trains and boats moved massive amounts of supplies, but when those materials arrived at the station or dock, it was horse-drawn wagons that got them to the soldiers in the field. In the Army of the Potomac in 1863, more than 60,000 horses were needed. The cavalry had approximately 12,000 troopers. In the artillery, one Union battery of six guns required 72 horses just for the cannons, and there were 51 batteries. In addition, there were ordinance wagons supporting those guns. The Union wagons carrying supplies and wounded numbered between 6,000 and 7,000. Each of those wagons required four to six horses. Plus, don't forget all the officers and their horses. The U.S. government spent $124 million purchasing horses during the war. That was a lot of money in the 1860s. It was so much that after a Confederate raid captured a general and several horses, President Abraham Lincoln reportedly said, "I can make more generals, but horses cost money."

Full article can be read here - https://www.timesnews.net/opinion/b...cle_4b5919ac-70d7-11ec-acb6-83aeab0dc6f4.html

Cheers,
USS ALASKA