Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-04-14
The Horse on . Walk.

A careful calculation of the time spent
on a walk by the farm horse. . com
pared to the time used at other kaits,
would show that the walk is nearly the
constant gait-constant at the pl9w,
also at the harrow. the corn planter,
and the seeder. In hauling tie ihsyss
the grain or any other commodity 70
market, the walk is always the gait. Il
is not used only when returning with
the empty wagon. or when, occssioaak
ly, team is hitched to the family car.
ryall. A very fast walker. under the
saddle. will make very nearly or quite
five miles an hour. Such . horse at his
work would make, say three and > half
miles, while a slow walker would not
come within one mile of this speed, tak4
ing the day through, This would cauae
a loss of nearly two days in the week;
or, we think it safe to say, week would
be discounted out of the month, by iea-
son of depending upon slow. instead Of
fast walker. The wages and board Of
the man, and the time and feed 81 tho
horse thus sacrificed, would ame0ntito
not less than twelve dollars . month. Il
full rendering would show additiQaas
loss, on account of delay in the work.
always an important item. and especial
ly in some seasons At the reapess o.
mower this thing Of smart walking
horse is of the highest Importance, g
there is usually large force employed
at high wages; and then the work u
usually done in great haste, often under
stress of weather, when quick move
ment is everything; and to have the
movement slowed down by moping
horses causes vexation and loss. When
man is hired, an idea of his value ID
very soon formed by the speed he makes;
and all sensible employers are willing -
pay the rapid worker in proportion 70
the work he turns of. When q farmer
puts such man. or any man, behind .
slow team, he stands in his, own light.
Better fall back on the faithful OK; b.
cause he is the cheaper Of the two, And
when no longer useful in the yoke. his
flesh and hide will return his original
cost. This much we say relating ID
farm work; but when . horse y offered
in the market, his rapid walking stride
commends him to buyers. partly because
all men like horse that walks fast, and
partly because good walker is gener-
ally clever at all his gaits.y To breed q
rapid walker, look well to the shoulder.
that it is not too upright; neither must
the breast be too broad. The rapid
walker is not likely to be- . lazy hoFse.
but. on the contrary. he usually shows
spirit, sometimes he shows high mettls.
These qualities all tell In Judging hia
value in the market, because they add
to his show qualities, if he has any. and
to his tendency to progression, when
hooked up-and there is NO class oi
buyers that object to horse because he
is not slow enough. It is easy to gel
slow horses, and horses that 90 slow n
all gaits; but now that neatly every
thing goes by steam except the horse
the nearer this useful animal comes h
doing this the more attention he w1
attract, and. all other things being
equal, the more money he will bring
Especially do express companies, omni
bus companies, wholesale dealers VII,
deliver to trains, men who haul by th,
load, and all men except sporting char
acters. prize horse largely for the speet
he makes at that very useful gait tn
walk. National Ltve Stock Journal.