Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-02-27
The Stallion to Patronize.

Ine rlme is at hand when the farm
mares win be mated and more than
ever before is it important to select
suitable sire. There is a pressing
demand for heavy draft geldings OF
good quality, weight 1000 pounds and
up. and no reason to conclude that
the demand viii not continue for many
years to come. In breeding this year
decide not only upon the breed most
suitable in every way, but determine
that this breed win be stuck to faith
fully until at least five top crosses
have been made. Where this is done
the resultant animals will be practi-
caliy pure bred and after that stand
ard has been attained no retrogressive
step should be taken-no outcrossing
TO an alien breed be permitted. In
examining the stallion to be used do
not look at his pedigree alone. That
may look attractive by reason OF the
gaudy seals attached. Look at the
horse first and the pedigree second.
See that he is sound in all important
essentials, especially that he is free
from the following hereditary or trans.
MISSILE unsoundnesses: Roaring.
heaves, grease, stringhalt, chorea,
SPAWN, sidebone, ringbone, curb and
eye troubles. See, too, that he is
really a draft horse not merely
large horse made to weigh ton by
reason Of the fat upon his ribs. Figure
what he would weigh If in ordinary
condition and then decide that if COM
paratively thin he should tip the
scales at not less than 1900 pounds.
Be sure that he has not only bulk, a
well rounded body, good heartgirth
and attractive head and neck, but
likewise grand quality, ample clean
fat bone. well defined strong .endons
and fully developed, well formed,
sound, tough feet. Avoid nat, shelly,
brittle feet, with evidences OF side
bone, convexity of sole, rings or
cracks. This is all important. The
feet must be ample, OF good shape
and sound else we cannot expect to
breed rom the stallion horses for
hard work that will wear well for
years even upon hard pavements in
the city. Prefer too the horse that is
well rounded in body, but at the same
time possessed Of readily defined, long
and strong muscles at shoulder, back
and hip. Then see to it that he is q
free, brisk walker and trotter fully
licking his joints, carrying his legs
straight forward IN a right line and
turning up his shoes both fore and aft
so that the soles are shown to the OBJ
server. It is necessary that he should
be brisk walker for heavy draft
horses do their work at q walk and
should get over the ground as rapidly
as possible when drawing a heavy
load. It is necessary that he should
be able to trot freely and well for
this ability indicates vim, vigor, activ-
ity and soundness. II possible select
sire that has great individuality Of
type and character as he will most
probably prove more impressive or
prepotent than q more ordinary stall
lion. Having selected such a sire con-
slider 1t an insult to mate with him
an old broken down, unsound mare.
1t is necessary that both parents
should be sound If we are to obtain
sound offspring. It is not always the
s:re's fault that the foals are poor In
quality for the unsound mare will
surely counterfeit the good qualities
Of her superior mate. It is Time to
stop expecting the impossible in horse
breeding. We should only expect
superiority In the progeny as the
sure legacy of superiority. We should
not look for figs from thistles or
sound foals from unsound parents.
Both parents should be sound at least
and unless they are sound they should
not be mated. We have already far
too many nondescript, mongrel, mis-
fit. unsound horses in the country.
Why breed more Of them?-A S. Alex
ander in Farmers Review.