The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-09
DEMAND FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Scientific American.


Our export trade in horses reached its
minimum I'm 1894. when the bicycle and
trolley threatened the doom of the horse,
but FIVE years later in 1899. the pendulum
had swung to the other extreme and our
export trade reached its maximum. Last
year we exported nearly 100000 head OF
horses and a fair percentage of these were
trotters, to be used either for racing, coach
ing for the parks. A large number OF
cavalry horses were also shipped and these
are still going abroad in continuous
stream.
The American trotter, as bred to-day, is
the most useful and serviceable horse in
the world, and he has outclassed all others
at the shows at home and abroad. He is
the ideal type of horse, with just sufhcient
mobility about him TO permit the breeders
TO rear him for variety of uses. He is
bred from fifteen to seventeen hands IN
height, and from 900 to 1,40O pounds In
weight, suitable alike for racing, trotting
on the speedway or for road handling. He
is bred to trot from 2:20 to 2:0S, and he
sells from $500 to $4,000 on the average
not taking into account the extraordinary
prices paid for Maud 5, or Sunol. There
is demand to-day in Europe for Ameri-
can trotters that can meet the market re-
Quirements at prices ranging from 5000 10
$4,000. Trotting-bred road horses OF extra
speed and beauty sell to-day in the Lon
don market for $4,000 a pair, and in nearly
all instances of such sales the horses are
either bred in America or are from Ameri-
can-bred sires.
abroad has given new impetus to horse
breeding in this country, and there is re-
vival in the business that promises well for
the future. The present scarcity OF good.
salable horses is forcibly contrasted with
the condition of the market five years ago.
Then the horses in the far Northwest were
so plentiful and in such little demand that
they were left by the farmers to starve on
the range. On the great ranges of Texas.
California, Oregon and Dakota the stations
were shot to stop the increase, and premi-
ums were even offered for removing the
herds Only recently the Union Pacific
the Oregon ranges some nine thousand
head Of wild horses to the grain-groW1ng
States. The organizers of this movement
anticipate making money out OF these wild
horses when they have been fed and pre-
pared for the market. Instead of the wild
horses being a nuisance on the plains to-
day, they are in great demand both for
export and for home use.
our war in the Philippines. The Pacific
coast has been shipping horses to the far
East for our soldiers and army transports
at the rate of nearly thousand a month.
These half wild horses, when broken to
| the saddle, make the best sort of army and
cavalry horses. SO well is this recognized
| that both Germany and Russia are now
buying American horses for this wing of
| their armies. The South African war has
| demonstrated the value of a large cavalry
army. and nearly all the European nations
are increas sing their mounted troopers, with
| the result that the American horses are In
greater demand than ever. Not only are
/ the American trotters and range horses of
| the West great winners. but we practically
have a corner in the horse markets of the
world. We have the breeding stock. and,
| above all. the cheapest ranges and feed in
| the world The American breeder can put
| the products of his stock farms on the Eu-
ropean markets at less cost than the local
| breeders, and his animals will be superior
| in speed. power and endurance.