The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-08-02
GOOD HORSES ARE
HIGH AND SCARCE
ny. j. q. 1risI,NEYIIOUGfI,
Stnfc Veterinarian.

ny. j. q. lrifltNI,YiIOGGfI,
III state Veterinarian.
Last week. while tho writer WA
addressing Il number Of farmers Mt an
institute held ut Callawnys. Franklin
county, Va, he earnestly advocated tile
future, and especially did lie urge tho
nccessity Of improving our breeds or
horses each year a gentleman In tic
crowd asked u the horse business had
ed that there was practically no sale
for horses now. Nevertheless. wien
tho speaker asked how many good
orses se co,, fdGod,leSklg
ity ut q moderate price, no one could
even tell him where fc could and Il
doZen such animals at any reasonable
Not only is this true of FRANKLIN
county. but IT Is true OF ali Of the
counties In this section. because good
l morse, are very scarce throughout the
acnnsfyi, al. ana the prices for tl,am are
aslsccoIuiH8ly high. During the last few
!nenlhs several persons have written
- THIS Office to know where they could
tnny good, well-brolcn. well-brcd fam.
be found to-day for sale at reasonable
palces-.-at prices which man can
aiord to pay for an animal to use for
sven purposes az for ladies' to drive
and ride. and also to be worked to the
plough and wagon, and yet look at
tractive? Unsonnd and unsafe animals
n nay pc plentiful. but they are not de-
arabic, and thus are not very snlablo
II there Is money In buying two
year-old steer for $40 or $40. keeping
MIN until he liz four years old. and
1hen, selling him as an export steer.
az they do In Southwest Virginia; then
why IL 1t there is no money In buying
Ing him at the age OF three and one
half, after he rs well trained, for sum
anywhere from $3.50 10 $1,000 1t Is
the opinion OF the writer that there is
good colt. The colt can be used to
advantage while he is being trained,
either under the saddle or In har-
ness.
Trouble in the Breeding.
The trouble Is really In tho blood
and the individual In the first place,
and then in the feeding and training
in the second place. No cattle man Is
going TO try 10 mako export steers
mails. Practical cattle men do not try
10 make export beef steers out OK
grade Jerseys. No, they want individ-
uals that can put on plenty of flesh
in the best form Then these cattle
feed all OF the winter, preparing to
go on the very best OF grass In the
early spring. From birth. or purchase.
until sale tho export steer is an ex-
peNSe, Jet inc pUVL Ctttls
tx the most important industry with
many CO the prominent farmers OF
Southwest Virginia
IL some of our best practical men
would give tho same time, feed and
year l believe ii would prove more pro-
1itable than the cattle business. Some
farmers do raise several good colts
each year. but just try to buy these
animals at the age of two years and
xxsftf trFt Nm m
SIS going to fall to make some money
on his horses II he has some good ones
for sale every spring. fall and about
The first of each January.
Horse Demand Exceeds supply.
The trouble is simply that we have
neglected improving our horses. from
time TO time. until the period Is now
upon us whom We cannot supply the
demand for good horses.
When clubs have been formed to-
purchase a stallion for community.
1p many instances very poor Judgment
has been shown in the selection of the
stallion. In the very start TOO much
,ftallion simply because the horse was
n stranger. and WAS supposed to be q
Inc animal. AZ matter OF fact. our
Eether In many counties in the last
Two years, and paid from $1,000 to s3,-
700 for a stallion which would have
3een an expensive horse at $1,000.
II
This practice OF paying high prices
Or n horse which Is imported into this
puntry before you have ever tried 20
pc what the animal is capable OF
tandpoint When you cripple the
Ireeder. You then stop the production
IL good stock, which is obliged to-
ventually hurt the business. When q
Itranger comes into your neighborhood|
eith an imported horse. and then gets
lone OF the local horsemen to help
lin sell this horse for a big price, as
rulo tho farmers are paving out
money from which they Will never
get any returns.
From the. different agricultural pa
'pers there is little trouble in finding
out Just where one can find well bred
stallion for sa l.. no matter what breed
some stranger bring the animal which
he wishes TO sell to you at price. 1t
would be much wiser to write to sew
eral breeders. and finally send Two
stock and select the horse which Is
the most desirable. BY doing this
money will be saved. and nine times
cut of ten better horse procured.
DO Not BE Afraid of virginia OF SOUTH
crn Bred Horses.
Some time ago the writer was in
the Southwest portion Of this State.
where he was shown two stations at
one little farm. One Of the stations
lad just been bought by club for
.uation of not exceeding $500.
It was a Virginia bred Percheron
which was traded. and the new owner
had taken the horse away In fact.
who sold the stallion and took the
young horse as part payment also had
an understanding that the colt WAS to