Graham guardian., 1908-04-17
RAISING HORSES ON the FARM
A Profit in Draft Animals Of a GOOD
Glass, il the Farmer Loves
Horses.

farm offer sufficient inducement TO
warrant the farmer owning eighty
or more acres gong into the busi-
ness? fl were asked to answer
this question from personal experl
euce in raising horses and ooser-
vation of other successful farmers
wb, have been in the business Tor
number of yeats / would answer
Yes. if the farmer himself loves
good horses. For several years
past | have been giving special al
ten,ion 10 raising few horses on
nv farm, both for the market and
to establish q strong team iorce
for farm purposes, and l have
found the business not only proht-
able from financial standpoint
but | have been able TO maintain a
strong, heavy, three team force on
nv farm at a very moderate cost,
Had | been compelled to purchase
the teams l now have on my farm
and desire to maintain have good
reason TO believe l would have
found very little profit in farming
the last few years, as good oral'
horses have been commanding nn
usually large prices, to say moth
ing of the risk run IN purchasing
draft teams.
About ten years ago, before l
began raising horses, l found 1t
necessary to purchase an addition
al heavy draft team to handle my
farm work. was very fortunate
in finding fine young horse in my
ne,ghborbood, but desiring to
match team set out to hnd an
other of as nearly the same type
and disposition us possible, Afler
travelling not less than a thousand
miles in various direct'ons-most
of the time outside of my own
coupty-I found horse that, while
Il did not match the one bad pre-.
viously purchased, | thought would
answer tho purpose. paid iEe
owner what thought was u good
pr;ce for Notwithstanding
better than 5000. l took the borse
home. and in less than four months
the animal developed very ner
yous Temperament and wonld not
work agreeably with the horse l
had formerly purchased. Before
the working season was over was
compelled to make another pu'.
chase. and after three weeks OF
diligep, searching found another
hersc that, while not just what was
desired, was. bought These three
horses now represented an invest
ment OF over 5000, to say nothing
of five weeks constant travelling
10 find them. ] found ut various
times good teams for sale, but as
Twas in want each time OF single
horse / could not make u purchase
that would hreak up well matched
teams. Two of the three horses |
purchased were geldiDgs. lsimply
call this instance to notice as 1t is
a part of my experience in pur'
chasing horses for farm purposes
and 10 show the readers OF The
Tribune Farmer what "a great
scarcity there is of good draft
horses throughout the farming
country and the great need of more
attention being paid to raising
good horses of all types on the
farm.
Success IN raising horses on the
farm depends, | believe, more than
any other ope thing upon the farm.
er himself. | do not believe any
farmer can baye success in hand
ling horses unless be possesses q
patural love for animals. The man
who goes into raising any kind ot
farm livestock simply for the pur
pose of making money is doomed
10 ultimate disappointment. The
borse abovc all other domestic an
imals needs kind treatment, anc
unless . man can give this would
recommend that be leave the horse
entirely alone and choose some
profession in which the horse il
not required. The man who does
not place the service of the horse
pext to bis own should never b,
allowed TO care for and hapdle th'
most faithful servant of mankind
No farmer, ] believe, gap SUCCEED
10 raising b9rses ahd make th
business profitable unless be i
Wiling to make some sacrifces
II 10 an old adage that boy Is
boy and likewise a colt colt, an,
he who does not possess the spiri
to enjoy their frolic and fun shoul,
he content with less dignified oC
cupatiop.
The Question Of compensatlo
realized from the raising Of horse
op tie farm is The first ito appep
TO the farmer. Most farmers ar
ready and anxious TO take up wit
Hp enterprise that gives promise {
fiprplpg fair profit. ! DC nc
pelieye ! bayo eyer nade anothe
financial venture that has paid be
ter returns for he amount Of cur
and attention than have my horse