Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-14
DEyELOPINGTHE
HOW IT HAS BEEN DONE IN
AMERICA.
Early spanish settlers Were the First 90
Introduce Equine Flesh into This coun-
try-Ths Larger European Brseds Now
In Popular Favor.


Development OF the American Horse.
Owing TO such variety, and many
different countries as the originals came
from, In making up the horses Of the
present day In America, 1t has been Inn
possible to create single homogeneous
breed, that could, with any prorriety,
be called American. writes A. b. Allen,
In 1.-The American .Agrioulturlst. We
must, therefore, take them as they are
known under their present names, an
improve each class by itself in the bee I
manner to ADAPT them to the purpose for
which they may be quired. This can
be done, first, by the use of judicious Sc
lections from those now In America;
and, second, by taking crosses from
foreign horses which are superior In
come points to our own, which we wish
10 improve. BY these methods We
should, In procs IS OF time, come to as
near perfection as Is attainable, and in a
cheap and rapid way. Such a course
would be attended with general In
creased advantage to the public, and
add much to the beauty cf the animals,
and, when offered for sale, an increased
price for them would be easily obtaina-
bic without an increased cost of rearing.
The Spaniards were the first to intro
duce horses into America, which was
done in their earliest settlements.
These were undoubtedly descendants of
the Barbs, brought over to Spain from
Morocco by the Moors, when making
their conquests in that kingdom. They
were cognates OF the Arabians, and
quite like them In all respects, except
being slightly larger in size and stouter
In build. They multiplied rapidly here
In fhic oil oil t,o IN nd nta thu nh tl d
ant nutritious grasses. Soon exceeding
the requirements of the settlers, the
surplus animals were turned out to
breed wild on the vast plains, extending
in great length on each side of the Andes
Mountains. Here they became so nu-
merous as to be OF no value beyond
their hides, and were then killed by the
thousands for these, to te shipped off
and sent abroad to be converted into
leather, and for other purposes. This
stock is now well spread over South
and Central America, into Mexico and
Texas, with scattering along the
northwestern coast up TO and beyond
California. There, horses vary In size,
from thirteen-hand ponies up to fifteen
hands or more, OF a serviceable sort for
oil kinds of work, and especially for
that under the saddle. They show a
free, easy action, sufficiently fast for all
ordinary purposes, and possessed Of
good constitution, hardy and enduring.
The next horses introduced into Amer
lea were by the French, in the com
mencement of their settlement of Can
ada. These also were much like the
Spanish, though somewhat stronger and
of a little heavier build. The winter
climate there is too cold for horses 10
run out wild to breed as in South Amer
lea, consequently they have increased
but little beyond the wants Of the set
tiers. The stock descended from them
have proved extra hardy and sound;
many excel as trotters,~ nnd~are conse-
quently good roadsters. The use OF
them is increasing for light work, here
tofore given TO larger horses. 1t is
found now that such work Gan be more
cheaply done by ponies, and they cost
less, as they can be reared on short
pastures, where larger horses would
starve. But the latter of good class
were bred to advantage by the farmers,
and are yet used for the heavier work
Small, promiscuous importations of
horses occasionally followed he forego-
ing, while the farmers continued their