Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-04-21
Ifrom the Register.
Percheron or Norman Horses.

into Union county, Ohio by Full
lington & Martin in 1851, and sold
to A. P. Cushman, Dewitt county.
Illinois in 1885, and purchased from
him by the billions in 1857. He
was sixteen hands high and general
ly weighed 1860 lbs. He was ex-
hibited at the Illinois State Fair in
1869 at the head of herd of 112
of his colts and grand colts. The
billions and Mr., Durham are the
most noted breeders of Norman hor
ses I know ofin the United States
and have imported large number
of them into Illinois, the stations OF
which have sold generally at from
$500 to $4,000. They have rails
ed great number of them which
are sold throughout the West.
These horses are most appreciated
where they are best known. The
billions stood sixteen of their STALL
ions last year by the season at an
average Of S31 81 per mare, and
1884 mares were bred to them.
The lowest horse was $40 and the
highest $50, all by the season.
This shows very plainly in what
estimation they are held by those
who have used them. My brother,
Herring Chrisman,o of Knox county,
Illinois, wrote me that the half and
three-quarter bred Normans were
selling this winter as soon as broke
TO work, at from 8 125 to 175. av-
erage, say, $3.50 per headsby the
car load, They were shipped to
st. Louis, Chicago, and the East,
for the heavy draft service Of the
cities.
Before the war we had good draft
horses in this Valley but drain on
them during that time was heavy
indeed and after the close OF the
war nearly every good horse in the
county was picked up by the Penn
sylvanians and Marylanders, for
they paid high prices and we need
ed money. We have since been breed
ing trotting and running horses that
can do neither,at every cross lessen
ing the size and value of our hores
for draft and farm purposes. l do
not mean to disparage either class
of these horses. They are very
valuable for driving and for the sad
die but there is no general demand
now for that kind of horses. Had
we not better change to type of
horse that is in general demand,wiLl
be valuable to us to keep for our
own use and be ready sale at a fair
price if we wish to dispose of him?
From my knowledge of the draft
horses in this county, the NOrmans
and Clydesdales are the ones best
suited to use upon our present
stock of mares, to build up our
draft stock. By using thorough
bred sires of these two breeds or
either of them, which can and will
transmit their own peculiar type and
characteristics to their get, we can
raise as valuable horses in this as
any under the sun. In order to do
this we must choose the class of
horses that suits us best, quit mix
ing the different class and breed
with an eye to perfecting the class
we have chosen. If we breed Perch
erons, Normans and Clydesdales
with judgement and discretion in a
few short years the value of the
draft horses of this Valley would
be twice that of to-day. 1t is not
the cost of get Of the colt that in
such tax upon US but his keep
until fit for use. You may say
we cannot stand Illinois prices. Nor
need we stand them. Such horses
can be commanded at about one
fourth.
Breeding is a science, and it re-
quire intelligence and judgment to
attain great results in it. If our
people wish to improve their breed |
of horses they must follow some Of
the fixed principles of breeding. It'll
took Scotland, Perche, Normandy |
and Bologna long time to raise
their present breeds of draft horses
from cross of the Arabian stall
lion upon their light, quick, active,
hardy mares. We have not their
difficulties and delays to contend
with, for we can get their thorough
bred stations ready made to our
hands, who will most surely trans
NIT to their get their own form,
strength and action in great de-
gree when used upon our good
mares. The word thoroughbred, Il
when applied to the horse, is gen.
orally understood 70 apply to the
running horse, but the word {
simply means bred in and in until {
the sire can transmit with almost {
absolute certainly his form and {
general characteristics to his S
get. This is the reason experien- S
ced and intelligent breeders of all '
domestic animals lay much stress
upon their breeding animals being
he Thoroughbred. They know
With almost absolute certainty the
ret will inherit the good qualities o
If the sire, but if you breed to G
nongrel or grade, there is no tell G.
LII 1900 - r. "