Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-05-15
The Horse For Farmers.

We are asked by a correspondent to
say which is the best horse for the far
mer to breed forready and profitable sale,
says the Western Rural. We could an
swer the question more briefly by telling
him what not to breed. He should not
breed for ready sale inferior horses. I'm
der the term inferior would be classed
the thousands of what we call scrub hor-
ses, W hich are under size, under weight,
ugly, slow of motion, and without any
distinguishing merit whatever. Of course
there are valuable horses among our
common stock. In all that this paper
says upon the desirability of breeding
up stock by the use of thoroughbred
males, it is never so prejudiced as to
loose sight of the fact that among our
native stock are many valuable individu-
ais, animals that will compare favorably
with the thorOUghbreds; and if our COM
mon stock, as a rule, had as good care
given it as is given to improved breeds,
there would not be so much difference
between them as is now seen. But there
would be a difference remember, and a
great difference. We cannot make Nor
man out of little scrub, or a ShOrt-hOrn
out of native by feeding and care. But
we can by feeding and care make a very
much better animal than one that is neg
leCted. We may do great deal too, in
improving our stock by a careful selection
of breeders. In breeding common stock
there is a very great degree of careless
ness as a general thing. There is little
study of the characteristics of individu-
ais, and not even care to select the largest
and best for breeding purposes. The re-
suit Of all this hit or miss system IS fire.
quently about as poor an animal as can
be bred. That kind of horse or other
animal it will pay nobody to breed. But
while the common horse is sometimes,
and indeed often very valuable animal,
it is never as valuable as one of the i'm
proved breeds. There is ready sale for
good common horse. Our horse car lines
and thousands of our teaming lines are
supplied or almost wholly from our stock
of what we call common horses. But the
common horse does not bring as much in
the market even if it is the best, as a fine
specimen of one Of the imported breeds.
Grade Percheron, or Normans, Cleveland
Bays, Clydesdales, and we think the Eng
fish cars find a ready sale at remunera-
tive prices.
The heavy horses have been steadily
growing in popularity wherever a horse
for work is in demand. Farmers have
been adopting them more and more, and
the future of the heavy horses as farm
horses, we believe to be very bright
one. Wn0r0 nedVy Ceanlng lS 10 DC QOn05
they have been enjoying an increasing
popularity ever since their introduction
into the country, and the demand in that
quarter is an increasing one. There is
yet a prejudice in certain quarters
against the very large horses, but it is al
ways, we think, with those who have
never had any experience with them.
We believe that we have yet to hear the
first complaint from any one who has
purchased and used team of the heavy
draft horses. We, therefore, do not be-
lieve that our correspondent will make
any mistakes in breeding his common
mares to Percherons, which he informs
us he is now doing.
There is also good demand for the
lighter breeds. The Hambletonian can
be bred with profit. There is always a
demand for such horses. The Morgan is
fine horse, as good an animal as there
is of the lighter breeds. To a large ex-
tent the merits of this horse have been
lost sight of of late years; and we are
rather pleased to note some of the efforts
that are being made to revive its popular
ity. Where light horse is preferred, or
Will answer the purpose, it is pretty diff
ficult to find better one than the Nor
gan.