The Grenada gazette., 1888-05-05
HORSES FOR MARKET.
How They Are Classified and the "Points"
They Should Possess.

are COnsluereu uarketaDle unless tHey
are strictly sound.
Streeters are mostly used by street
railway companies. They must weigh
not less than 1850 pounds up to l,2DO
pounds and be not less than four or
more than seven years old. No Ic-
striction rs to color, but it is necessary
that they possess good bone and feet
and the general appearance of good,
durable horse. The average price paid
for them is 1925 per head. This stock
undergoes the most thorough inspec-
ton, and all which are unsound or
refuse to work, are returned to the
dealer
Feeders are the draft horses wanting
in flesh. weighing l, 300 pounds and up
ward. and having frame and bone suf-
ficient to carry about 800 pounds more
fat. They are bought by those
making it business of feeding and
fattening horses-mostly by firms in
Ohio and Pennsylvania. They pay
from $50 to 5000 each, shipping them
home and feeding from two to four
months, making more money on one
ear than an ordinary dealer would by
handling six or eight cars of horses.
In November last there was shipped
from my barn, sixteen feeders that cost
an average here of $3.50 per
head. They were shipped to Ohio,
where they were fed until the last of
February and sold to a New York
buyer for 1926 per head. Estimated
cost Of feeding. buying and shipping,
was $45.6O per head, giving a net profit
of 81. 1.329.4O for the sixteen head. Good
interest and wages for three and half
months time!
To carry on this line of work, If
winter. prepare a good warm stable,
as your horse will not take on flesh
nnless kept warm. Select good sound
geldings, weighing not less than 1850
pounds, if thin in flesh, of good color,
not less than three nor more than six
years old, with plenty of bone, good
frame, stocky build, short back, well
coupled, and with ribs well sprung out.
Avoid all others. Three quarts oats, 2
quarts sbclled corn and I or 2 quarts
dry bran three times a day at regular
intcrval4, with a handful of meal once
a day and small allowance Of hay,
will increase your horse 100 pounds in
80 days, if an ordinary feeder, and if
continued 80 days, Il horse will more
readily bring $3.50 than Sl75 when
thin. Turn them in lot one at u time
daily for an hour Continue this up to
within three weeks before marketing
no grooming being necessary. Now
lead them out and give them walk
once q day, and give a thorough groom
ing after walking.
Draught horses must reach well up
to 1000 pounds and from that l,600
and occasionally 1900 to 1000 pounds.
A good draught horse weighing 1,5OO
pounds is worth $500. and for every
100 pounds of increase you can safely
add S25. 1t was common saying.
mo foot no horse" Buyers overlook
or purchase horse with a poor foot
when he possesses extra good boue,
but have never known one to pur-
shase a horse having poor bone, on ac-
sount of good feet.
Express horses are selected from the
light draught class, choosing the
smoothest, best quality and those of
good action only, rejecting bad colors,
such as dun. light sorrels, light grays,
etc, and refusing those having bald
face, a glass eye or a white forcfoot.
They should be about 16 hands high,
from five to six years old and from |, $50
to 1. $50 pounds in market, which means
from 1850 to 1900 pounds in the coun-
try. They bring from $l75 to s225p per
head.
Carriage and coach horses are the
most difficult class to obtain, while the
demand is constantly on the increase.
Range. size, color, action and dis
position are the NECESSARY requisites.
There being no established price,
it depends largely on how well you
please your customers fancy. or how
much he is willing to pay. If they
are frst-class, you can ask for them
as much as it takes to buy 40 acres
adjoining your farm, and not be con-
sidernd ont Of reason.
Drivers cover quite wide range,
and vary in price from 800 to an al
most unlimited sum. owing to style,
action and speed. They are not mar
ketablc unless five years old, and we'll
broken to harness. If used single, it
is necessary to have size-from l,lO0
to /, 200 pounds. In pairs, those weigh
ing from 1000 pounds upward are
usual.
Ibelieve the best results, financially,
will follow those who breed in the
draft line, one of the many advantages
being that you can almost grow them
in two years, and if good colts at that
age, you can find ready sale for them
at very remunerative prices. | often
hear men say that the draft-horse busi-
ness is being overdone. Don't be
alarmed at such foolishness. The day