The Dickinson press., 1906-09-22

protein, which is so essential to the de-
velopment of a horse with good feet and
a good healthy vigorous body, compared
with those raised in the corn belt. The
combined effect of the nature of our soil,
water and vigorous climate are no doubt
responsible for the reputation the. horses
raised in the northwest have for hardi-
ness and why they are looked. to with
such favor on the markets.
Nowhere can a good horse be pro-
duced SO cheaply as in Western North
Dakota and if range grass fed horses
stand SO high what will they be when
raised under farm conditions with shelter,
grain and care?
The most profitable horse for this sec
ton is the drafter. They can be sold
unbroken and a slight blemish does. not
discount a drafter as it would a light
roadster. go,
Mr.. Richards says II do. not want it
to be understood that l think the pro-
duction of light horses would not be
profitable in the northwest. There is a
grand opportunity here for men who are
roadsters with plenty of size, style and
action, and carriage horses Of merit.
This is an opportune time to start and
breed this class of horses, because the
demand is going to be good for this
class, and there are very few being pro-
duced in this country in proportion to
the demand. ~,
"Raise horses in connection with other
lines of live stock production and grain
growing. The small farmer who does
not have land enough to keep mares for
breeding purposes exclusively should
aimsto use.mares for work purposes and
breed.theuf: This will cause some in
convenience in. getting the farm wgIIk
done, but more healthy, normal colts are
produced in this way than when the
mares are, allowed to run idle. If the
mares are workedzthey will moi suffer
from lack of exercise and3the foal is
more apt, to be grown properly the first
summer. n. X;
"While every farmer should raise a
few horses on the farm:thefe is an ex-
~cellent chance in the northwest for es-
tablishing studs for the production of
pure-breds exclusively. For example,
land can be secured in large tracts in
such a state as North Dakota at a price
where it would pay a handsome profit,
if devoted exclusively to horse raising.
Some excellent breeding establishments
are to be found, scattered all through
this state and the class of pure bred
| draft horses raised on these farms is
evidence that the best can be produced
here. What need is there for the i'm
portation of so many stations of the
draft breeds when horses of just as much
merit can be produced right at home? If
our breeders would use care in breeding
and feeding we could excel other coun-
tries in the, production of horses.
"The best market for draft horses is
right at home and the supply is not
nearly equal to the demand, to say moth
ing of buyers who are eager to ship our
horses east.
"The great need to make horse pro-
duction a greater success in the north
west is more care on the part of our
farmers and breeders in the methods
Of breeding and feeding. A desirable
climate, soil, cheap feed and good
markets will not produce good horses in
themselves if no attention is given to the
selection of good sires and proper
; mating. All other conditions may be
\ ideal, but an inferior horse is the result
Next in importance to breeding is
t proper feeding. They may be bred right
) but it not grown properly they fall shor,
1. of the best possible results. Many draft
horses are from 200 to 900 pounds lighter
7 at maturity than they should be if they
had been grown properly, making as
! much as 50 per cent difference in theil
market value"