Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-14
For THE OXFORD DEMOCRAT,
Raising Cots.

1t seems to be the prevailing opinion
among farmers at the present time, that
raising colts to sell is a very slow way to
get money Judging fIom the number OF
colts and horses offered for sale, at very
low prices. without meeting a purchaser,
think it is not at all surprising that they
think as they do. | suppose most of them
attribute the difficulty which they have IN
selling their horses for fair price, to the
hard times, instead OF considering whether
or not their animals are what the market
demands. Here it may be asserted by
some. that there IS no ready market for
any class of horses whatever, but with
such beg leave to differ, for there are
three classes of horses for which there IS
a ready market at all times, and at re
munerative prices.
These three classes are as follows
First, very fast trotters and runners.
Second, gentlemens roadsters.
Third, heavy draft horses.
The majority OF farmers. instead of
breeding with view to special require
ments. have when they wished to raise a
colt, coupled whatever mare they happen
cd to have with the nearest available
stallion. and trusted 70 luck for the res,
The result Is that the country Is over
stocked with a miscellaneous class of gen
era purpose horses. many Of them being
very good road horses, but unsaleab.o on
account Of there being a surplus of this
kind. II farmers and breeders will make
a specially Of producing either Of the
above named styles Of horses, each one
selecting that kind which best suits his
tastes and circumstances, there will be "a
fair prospect Of making the business both
pleasant and profitable
l will make a few suggestions IN regard
10 producing the different styles Of horses
above named.
The first, and highest priced Of any
class are the very fast trotters aud run
uers; but these very fast ones can nc; be
produced with any degree Of certainty 10y
even the most experienced breeders, with
the best trot'ing and running blood %
work with, and tue best trainers 20 deyel-
or them IL Is doubtful If those that
have made a speciality Of breeding a,,
trotters for a series Of years have found
II remunerative but there Is a sort OF
fascination about il which causes many
gentlemen Of means TO engage 10 IT,, AM
who iook not 50 much 10 the profit as they
do 70 the pleasuroi; gives them. Ia such
hands ,ae breeding OF horses tor speei
alone should be left
Next in the scale Of prices comes the
tai, rangy, stylish, and high stepping
carriage or park horse; a kind Of horse
much sought after BY gentlemen Of wealth
who wan; speed and looks to be combined
with size and strength, and when they
6ni horse with these requisites they
pay long price for him This style Of
horses can be bred with considerable uni
formity by selecting rough aud we.i-iorm-
ed msres, and coupling them with large
stylish, and weil-bred stations OF good
trotting action. Among the large number
Of stations kept for service IN every STATE
no one need have any difficulty in select
in one standing from sixteen to seventeen
hands high and weighing eleven hundred
OF more, Of the best trotting blood, and
with speed enough himself to trOt thirty
clip BY obtaining the services Of such
horses IS these, We are pretty sure Of
raising large, valuable horses; aud one
qu,e as likely to produce flyer as those
who breed for speed alone, for many Of
the fastest trotters have been horses Of
larce size, for instance, Smugg'er, Great
Eastern, Almont, Mambrino Gift RaruS.
and a host of others But a. | fear
shall take up too much space, | vii, leave
the rosds,ers and trotterS until some iu-
ture time when may say more concern
iDg them, aud will briefly consider the
third Gas, which, though last Is not least.
for | think draft horses can be produced
with greater degree Of certainty and with
less trouble and risk than either of these
above mentioned. By crossing the larg-
est Of our common mares with Percheron-
Norman Stations, We can produce horses
weighing from II 70 10 hundred pounds,
which viii sell at any age tor good price
as there Is a constant demand for such
horses 10 20 into the cities In breeding
70 ;hese stations too much stress should
no, be aid on the fac, OF their importa-
ton; but judgment should be used to see
that their iegs and feet arc sound aai free
from defects, and also that their form and
action Is fully up to the standard, and if
they are what they should be in every re-
sPect, it will pay TO breed from them.
NJ.