A soldier inspecting a remount, 1914

Horses purchased for the army had to meet certain criteria. Initially, a horse had to be over three years old, healthy and the right size for the work they were purchased to do, which was either for riding, for pulling heavy guns or field guns and for transport.

During World War One the Remount Depot at Romsey, Hampshire, was kept busy day and night with shipments of horses arriving at nearby Southampton from overseas. All the animals were checked to ensure that they were not carrying any diseases that could infect other horses.

From an album of photographs compiled by Tpr James Eckersley, Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, Britain and Malta, 1914-1919.