Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-02-18
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LESSONS FOR SMALL BREEDERS.
From American Horse Breeder.

ing. These sales always interest
all breeders of trotting stock, as
the prices received are believed to indi
cate the esteem in which the best of
trotting-bred animals are held by the
progressive breeders Iof the country.
Many have feared that the breeding bus.
mess would be greatly overdone in the
near future, and that the immense surplus
of stock which is accommodating, and must
in time be thrown on the market, will
bring prices down to such a figure that
they will leave no profit to the breeder.
This is as sure to prove true of ordinary
stock as that water, unobtructed, runs
down hill. By ordinary stock is meant
not only 'plug" animals, but also those
which are fashiOnably bred, that is, are
strong in trotting lines, but don't show
speed. Since the standard rails were
formulated and adopted, by which it is
determined what animals are eligible to
registry as standard, too many especial
Iy of the small breeders have paid .ss at
tention then they should to merit when
selecting their breeding stock. They
seemed to get the idea from the teachings
of many who have contributed quite
literally to horsey publications tina pedi-
gree alone was of more Importance than
merit, and that all animals bred in fash
iDnable lines were sure to command great
princes, whether the animals themselves
were good individually or not. Any one
Of ordinary comm IN sense who studied
the matter carefully must have foreseen
from the first that sooner or later stand
ard-bred tcotting animals, like any other
horse stock, must sell for just what they
are worth for road and track purposes.
Animals lacking in size, speed and road
qualities, especially such as are not good
gated and of desirable conformation,
with but little nerve force and less style,
must eventually go for very low prices,
no matter how well their pedigree may
look on paper.
The sooner the small breeders learn this
fact, and shape their course accordingly,
the better it will be for their pockets.
Too many animals of this class, both
stations and mares, have been in use
during the past few years. The results
lucky show that breeders are becoming
more critical every year. Fasbionably
bred animals have been knocked down at
prices which seem astonishingly low to
those who did not see the individuals.
When the reports of the first days sales
In Kentucky were received breeders all
over the country were amazed. They
asked each other if sthe bottom had
really dropped OUT of the market.
Prices averaged so low that they were
discouraged. 1t is probable that many
if not most of these standardized ami
mails, which passed under the hammer at
these low figures, were considerably be-
low par in most other qualities thar
breeding, which determined the real
VALVE of the animals. This appeared
evident when the report of the second
days sale were received, showing a
marked Improvement in prices. The les
son. which the small breeders should
learn by heart is to combine merit with
pedigree. When selecting foundation
stock, if two animals, equal in merit, are
offered, one standard the other non-stand
ard, always take the former. Never buy
q poor animal, however, for breeding
purposes, no matter how attractive tn
pedigree. The best of stock, that whicl
can go out and perform upon the trac|
and road, that which is handsome
sound, Of good size, stylish in harness
and can go out and trOt fast or road well
will continue to command good prices
Pedigrees alone, however, are, and wi
be, at discount. Standardized AM
mails, which can't perform on the trac
and road better than common scrubs
will sell for but little more than the la
ter