Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-05-01
ABOUF-HORSF BREEDING.

ingham Register:
As the breeding season is now be-
ginning the experiences of dear
lover of livestock, who has been en-
gagged in breeding for over half
century, may be of some little service
to the young men of the county who
are engaged in farming and who must
necessarily, to a greater or less extent
become breeders of live stock of some
kind.
Their attention is more particular
ly called to horse breeding now, ow
ing to the high prices that class of
animals is bringing.
More, or in fact the largest por-
tion of the mares of this county, are
better suited for breeding draft horses
than any other kind aud will find
a reader market generally, aud will
paw better when mated with good,
heavy, draft sires than in any other
way.
But we have great many mares
not suited for heavy draft. These
will pay much better mated with
sires suited to get heavy carriage
horses, driving or saddle horses, or
hunters.
Only horses suited for heavy draft,
heavy carriage, drivers, saddlers or
hunters, are in much demand. The
nondescript kinds find but few places
to fill. and consequently bring low
prices-rarely paying for their keep,
and nothing, either, in the shape of
pleasure or profit. Since we cannot
make the market, we must breed to
suit. To do this we must mate the
different kinds of mares we have
with the sires which will produce
the kind the market demands.
Ia the first place do not use grade
sires, because they have not the pow
er to reproduce themselves. 1t takes
long years of breeding in the same
line of warm blood to give the sire
such power of potency as will enable
him to transmit with any certainty to
his get his peculiar type and charac-
teristics when coupled with the cold
blood females. Therefore, always
select the very best registered or
thoroughbred las generally termed)
sire of the breed you wish to raise.
Never use an Indifferent sire because
he is cheap. 1t is not the cost of
the get of the colt, but his keep and
handling until fit for market, that
runs so heavily into your purse, and
the difference between the price of
good or an Indifferent horse at mar
ketable age shows you on which side
debit or credit of your ledger to
place your balance. Therefore, mate
your large heavy mares with sound,
active, heavy draft sires; yours mares
of good size, style aud appearance,
mate with good, sound, active sires
with good style, high trotting action,
good feet. eyes and spirit. This will
bring you heavy carriage horses.
Your next size mares, with style and
good trotting action, mate with good,
square trotting sires with good, top
py, rangy necks, and smooth, neat
and stylish, and all the speed you
can get. This will bring you good
single or double drivers worth good
money. Your nice, handsome mare
with a good walk. trot, and gallop,
mate with the best bred, handsomest,
and best gated saddle stallion you
can find. This will give you high
class of horses that can be used
either as combined saddle and driv-
ing horses or as walk, trot and can
ter horses, which are so popular in
the northern cities. If they easily
take to the dog trot, running walk,
rack or pace, they will bring fine
prices from Southern people who
know how to ride, a rare few at the
North, and the business people of
the West. The Northern people
ride but little on horseback, and
consequently are poor riders, and
can not make horse do anything
but travel at his natural gait. If
they can make horse take his side
gaits they soon stave him all to pieces
on their cobble- stone pavements
and render him worthless.
Another class of horses brings high
prices. These are called hunters,
and are used for following the hounds