New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
THE HORSE AND HIS FUTURE
HIS STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE AGAINST
THE WHEEL AND THE MOTOR
From The Saturday Review.

Recent forecasts OF tne influences OF motor-cars
ana BICYCLES upon the future Of horses nave been in
many cases eXtrdvagant and ridiculous. II has been
said that in few years the horse will onger be
exists at ALL /, will be merely pet a plaything
Nonsense OF this sor; should blind the fact
that motor-cars and motor-carr.ages light ralways
and. a certain extern. also cycles Of various kinds
are certain TO affect seriously horse breeding
countries Horse-dealers aIre1dy complain that the
market for moderate hacks-the best keep up their
priceS-nas suffered considerably from the enormous
Increase IN the Use Of the bicycle. Many hack has
been sold because its owner found a b.cyce swfter
more agreeable. more convenient. and inucn more
economical conveyance. When small electric motors
cycle riding In the ordinary way too faguing. are
likely 10 adopt them. and ge, I'd OF their saddle
and carriage wnch threaten to become the most
deadly enemy OF the horse.
THE CART-HORsE WILL SURVIVE.
Before charging upon the damage likely 10 b
inflicted upon horsebreeders and horssdeaers by
such things. it may be prudent bear I'm mind
that the question 0. the probable influence upon
both by artificial progression and propulsion was
asked, and with at least as much reason. In the
early days OF railway locomotives and the use OF
steam power for purposes o. asriea'tur-. Yet many
more horses are bred I'm these days than In those
II may be thlt the number IL not larger. II so
large. In proportion TO the popu alton. The enor-
nous perpetual increase Of the population In pro-
portion TO the increase OF any kind OF farm
produce. in this little country H. very important
point to be remembered in calculating The effect OF
any new factor upon the future demand for par
ticuar form OF produce This consideration may
vel give rise 10 the doubt whether be the scot
horseess conveyances ever so general. the demand
years hence. Judging from results OF the steam
np-chopper. the steam cake-criIsher and the steam
pulper the motorcart Is not very .isey to lead 10
light railway saves him labor. IL : not more
Likely to make his services unnecessary than the
abolition OF the cart horse by the motor We should
be much surprised to learn that large number OF
cart horses are not employed at the works OF the
large horseess-carriase companies themselves.
We will continue with the cart horse in beginning
ON Of no no inf "A
upon horse breeders by the substitution " steam
patrons Of the ;hre horse and Inc cyesai" as ihe
breed are the brewers rnIoubteiiy it viii be a
greai swing to them to nave their Srodigiousy
heavy carts moved by steam instead OF by horses.
Horses similar those used by brewers. again. draw
the heavy vans OF many manufacturers and mer-
chants and dealers in cities # may be expected.
therefore that the demand for such horses will seri-
ously decrease. and We should not care at this
ment 10 invest money in large breeding stud OF
Cyiesdales or SHIRE horses AT present prices: Not
that anticipate the disappearance OF either breed.
ON farms. in the yards Of great works and railway
towns. there Will De ample opportunities for employ
the heavy c. r; hors, be superseded BY the motor.
Where he Is used time IS generally of Importance.
Is fine active. useful animal and we should greatly
regret to him gradually disappearing We have
horse or the Clvdes,iale a. there Is little demand
for him beyond towns and suburbs. and farmers are
not likely 20 on breeding him for their own use.
THE FATE OF THE FAILURES.
Nobody strictly speaking. be said 10 breed the
cab horse. lie like Lord Beaconsfelds critic is an
animal thar has failed in other walks OF lie; To
hsye no market for the failure no"ever' VIII ~ De .
Of horses that have turned out 70 be failures
In short. what is 10 become OF equine failures IN the
future appears 10 us TO be the most crucial question
connected with motor-carriages
The best omnibus horses are bred Tor tneir par
tcmlar purpose and sorry. indeed. snail We be n
these sturdy. active creatures become obsolete II 10
rage horse. Mo,or-carriages are likely to become
fashionable. For some time they viii; no doubt re-
that people who now keep carr it VIII pres
emily keep maor-carrage. nut we MINK tnat, -
that. by-and-by. the forgotten charms OF QUICK
stepping pair OF horses VIII Dc rsm' M n hgnss,
class will eventually be almost as niucn sousnt ater
ever is IN orr . 70 he fsmres
and here again. We are confronted by the question:
Motors viii not. ought not. to jump over
fences accordingly they are in no way likely 70
can be said OF the supply. There are even more
failures in breeding hunters than IN breeding car.
dispose OF such failures; it will NOT pay them 70
breed hunters at all; unless they can obtain much
present For this reason We expect the prices Of
riage horses are also likely rise in value, though
perhaps to q less extent 1890. -ou.n,,,. ,....
rather cheaper than dearer. The better class OF
failures in attempts to breed carriage horses ana
airy renounts: for horses which in these. days
would fetch fair prices as naek S. dG nc %
cult to dispose OF. Although motor races are already
whispered of. he would be a bold man who would
dare to prOphesy that machinery I'm form will
ever put a limit horse racing but this at least
seems certain that motor-cars will necessitate the
putting to death OF large proportion OF the count
less failures annually turned out OF racing stables.
One OF the most serious questions for the consid-
Grafton OF farmers In connection with motor-car-
riages IL the effect their general use would have
upon the demand for hay. oats and any provender
now consumed by horses; but az this does not d.
rectly concern the future OF the horse 1t IL some
what beyond the province OF our present inquiry.
Another question which our subject does not re-
quire to answer is. whether the breeding OF
horses other than cart horses. and apart from the
convenience OF using the young horses until SOLD q
even now remunerative to farmers There ere
those who strongly maintain that II Is not.