Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-09-29
HORSE BREEDING.
Its Prospects In the Middle Section of the
Union.

Its Prospects In the Middle Section of the
Union.
The Breeders Gazette says:
That there has been a marked falling off in
the demand for stations of tho various draft
breeds during the past few years is the tcsti-
mony of all leading importers and breeders.
lmportationS have practically ceased and sales
Of pure bred horses-cxcept for those of out
standing m~erit-have been slow and at u ma
terially lower range of values than were cur
rent a few years ago. That service fees should
have fallen to a low point as 81 result Of the
wide distribution Of entire horses-good, bad
and misunderstanding the patronage Of
farmers, is not a matter for surprise, and with
a view toward determining what lengths the
decentralization of rates had extended and to
ascertain also the general feeling in regard to
the style of horses most in request this season
The Gazette put ont n short time since u query
calculated to bring out the facts.
Several hundred good farmers and stockmen
in the states of Illinois. Iowa, Missouri, Kan
sas and Nebraska were asked to advise us rs TO
the kind of horses most generally patronizcd
by owners OF farm mares this season and to
indicate the range OF service fees. 1t is clear
that service fees have fallen to a figure where
the stallion keeper has to do some close tigur-
Ing to pay out" Those who have been Sc
duced into paying a big price for a poor horse
are of course in an uneviable position. The
man who pays a long figure for u really tiptop
horse of fine quality and choice breeding will
come much nearer making a profit in the long
run than he who brings in a ~"pelter" simply
because he could buy him cheap and stand him
at o nominal fee.
Big horses with style and quality are still
commanding remunerative prices, as are also
fine drivers, trained saddlers and choice coach
and carriage stock. 1t is the great mass OF
weedy st~ock-unsound, blemished. poorly built
and understood horses, devoid Of finish and
quality, such as result from patronizing cheap
mongrel or grade sires-that are a drug on the
market.
II We may be allowed to perpetrate IAN Irish
bull" the kin of horse most in favor in many
sections is the mule. Jacks have done a big
seasons work in many counties and we must
confess that those who have patronizcd them
have. generally speaking. shown more sense
than those who have bred good work mares to
scrubby mongrel or nondescript stud horses.
The jack is a purely bred sire at least, and one
knows just about what is to be expected from
his service, and the mule is by no means the
worst selling animal OF the day. From the
scrub stations you do not know what will
come. As between them and the ass the jack
is to be prefeoed every time.
A summary Of the reports to The Ga
zette would make the stallion fee in the
states named average about IS. The
price ranges all the way from 81 to $50.
The reports show extremes Of mixed
breeding that are enough to drive one
crazy. Horses in some sections have
been nearly ruined by breeding draft
mares to trotters. Many common farm
ers are attempting to get fast trotters.
Not n in twenty succeeds, and a food
of horses no good for anything is poured
upon the community, sending the price
of them down so low that it does not
just at present pay to breed a good
horse in those localities.
In the midst of the confusion a few
fixed conclusions can be arrived at. One
is that pure bred, first class draft horses
and carriage horses are always in de-
mand, and trotters to a considerable ex-
tent, too, if n can be sure they are 60
ing to be fast. The Clydesdales, Perch
erons, French coach horses and trotters
are the breeds most popular in the states
indicated. There are also some Shires
and Belgian drafts, with a faint sprin-
king Of thoroughbreds. The Hackney is
practically unknown. Little attempt is
made to develop breeds of saddle horses.