The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-05-15
FARMERS SHOULD MATCH THEIR
HORSES
HORSES

HORSES
The Drover's Journal says that one
of the most difficult problems in the
| horse industry is to match horses in
size, color, conformation, action and
disposition. The value of an individ-
ual animal is often increased many
| fold by being proper mate to anoth-
err animal of the same class. Whether
in the draft or light harness division,
| a pair of matched horses have great
er commercial value than the animals
possess singly.
At one of the combination sales at
the Chicago market pair of matched
roadsters was negotiated to then Sen
ator Knox, of Pennsylvania, for $4,000,
that, sold singly, would not have real
lied $4,000. They each had a public
record around 2:15, and were admir-
ably mated in speed, temperament
and disposition. In action they were
counterparts, and their flight of speed
was uniform.
Team trotting has always been a
popular out-of-door pastime, and much
time has been spent in training pairs
for public exhibition. Belle Hamlin
and Honest George in 1892 at Provi-
dence, R. l., trotted an exhibition mile
to a wagon in 2:12h-a performance
that has not since been surpassed in
conformation they were counterparts
in temperament and speed.
The fashion has broadened to try
to own the finest commercial draft
pair Probably no city in the world
has so many choice matched pairs as
Chicago. A few hours spent in the
congested commercial districts of the
city will witness scores of elegant
pairs of matched draft horses. The
rivalry of large manufacturers and
mercantile houses to own the best
teaming turnouts has advanced show
drafts to record prices. The packing
firm of Armour & Co., has paid as high
as $500 in the auction ring for a mate
to a wheeler in a siX-horse team.
Not only in the United States, but also
on the continent is there the same am
bition to own the best draft pairs, as
the finest horses are not only eff
cient workers, but become great adj
vertising card for the firm which these
represent.
The International Live Stock Elk
position has greatly stimulated the
| value of matched draft pairs, four
and six-in-hand teams. That the finest
horses in the world compete in these
annual international contests was de-
monstrated last season, when Armour
& Co. sent their international cham
pion six-in-hand team to Europe to
compete in the worlds sweepstake
class at the London, Brussels, Paris,
and other international live stock ex-
positions. After touring the continent
for four months and achieving the
greatest honors ever awarded to
matched teams, they returned to Chi
cago with the laurels that American
bred draft horses are the best in the
world.
In the horse industry breeders can
increase their profits by matching
pairs to commercial use. Either draft
or harness classes command higher
prizes when offered in matched pairs.
Recently the Tichenor-Grand firm
purchased singly two carriage horses
at $3.50 and $500 each that made an
admirable pair in size, color, dispo-
sition, conformation and action. The
horses were schooled to city objects
and thoroughly hammered at an addi-
tional cost of $780, when a wealthy
financier purchased the pair for $4,000.
Farmers are not in touch with the
private trade, but they can match
their horses, and, in some instances
double their commercial value when