Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-06-26
agricultural.
Raising Horses for Market.

Four hundred horses have recently
been sent across the Atlantic by the Will
Jams and Guion steamship line, for caval-
rv service under the English government.
Il costs the shippers for stalls and freight
s75 per head. 1t is likely enough that
this demand will increase. None but
good-sized, 6rst-class horses will answer.
The Anchor line (Scotch) are shipping TO
Glasgow nearly every week 80 to 40
horses for street-car service. 1t costs SO
per head to send these, and they sell for
about half the price Of the others. East
of the Alleghanies it will not pay to raise
car-horses which bring in New York an
average Of $3.50 each. The highest
prices are paid for carriage and coach
horses. which are worth when matched
from $500 to $1,000 pair according to
size, form and style. For car aud stage
service in the cities, horses should not
weigh more than !, 100 if heavier, they,
As the drivers say, "pound their feet and
legs all to pieces" These horses are pro-
dueed by the common stations OF the
country, which are a detriment to the
farmers, as the more such horses ne raises
the poorer he becomes. None but large
aud stylish stations of pure blood should
be patronized, such as get colts that when
matured weigh fully 1900, and are fine
steppers with good style. Such horses
can be worked on the farm with advantage
until fully developed, when-they will ind
a ready market at paying prices. Let
the Western farmer furnish the common
horses for drudgery, which he can do
for less than 500 each, and the Eastern
farmer endeavor 10 raise better animals,
which he must do if he would have re-
enumeration for his feed and trouble.
1t is not necessary that carriage horses
should be fast, but they should have
snowy and spirited gait. The farmers OF
Kentucky understand these principles
thoroughly, and produce more fine and
high-priced horses than any other State IN
the Union. Extra large-sized coach hors-
Is are good for trucks, and are often sold
for this purpose, as their style does not
hurt then any, but is an additional at
traction. The heavy class Of truck horses,
weighing !, 800 or 1000 pounds are very
valuable, and, if they have good feet and
limbs, will bring from 81 600 to $4,000
a pair. Large horses are apt 10 be fiat
footed on account Of the strain on the feet
from their weight. The best truck horses
come from Pennsylvania, where their
breeding has been reduced to a science.
They are the most expensive horses to
raise, as they require large amount OF
nutritious food to bring them up TO the
proper proportions. Ii Is for the interest
Of farmers to breed fine carriage horses
such rs We have described, which can be
employed at home until ready for market,
when they can be sold and younger
team take their place, which In turn may
also be disposed Of. There is no reason
why a good coach horse cannot make
good farm horse, and with this idea in
mind the farmer Of the Eastern States
may always have good horse, and at
the same time profitable one. Without
such q standard and purpose horses must
be bred at a loss. Trotters, as 4 rule will
not pay, as not one in twenty-five ever
becomes sufficiently speedy and celebrated
to bring more than the price Of ordinary
animals. Horses designed for trotting
cannot work on the farm, but must be
kept idle in the stable, except when being
trained. which. under the circumstances,
Is time poorly spent, and if followed up
with Its train Of associations Is sadly de-
moralizing to farmers sons and horse
boys and horsemen generally. The mark
ct for trotters is very ftful and f4ncitul
and lack. the stability and permanence Of
the market for carriage and coach horses.
n. Y. Tribune.