The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-17

~ S0OSAS "
hard roads and pavements. Unsound.
nesses are very likely to develop on
short pasterned horses. In moving the
horse should go straight. with a long
easy stride.
/, Unsoundnesses.
Animals with serious unsoundnesses
should not be used for breeders. Sigh,
! unsoundnesses in mares are not SO OBJ
%jecti0nlble as in stations. since the
mare does not influence nearly Sc
many colts. Ons0undnesses are moi
transmitted to colts. but the weakness.
es that are usually responsible for un.
sound conditions are often transmitted
The principal unsoundnpsses are ring.
bone. sidebone. SPAWN. bog SPAWN
t%horoughpin and curb.
Sidebone is u bony formation at the
hoof head toward the heel. Ringbone
may be found in the same place. ex-
tending all the way around. or it may
be higher up on the pastern. in which
case 1t is known as high ringbone.
SPAWN is Il bony formation on the In
side Of the hook. Curb is a bony en-
largement at the back Of the leg just
below the point of the hook. 1t Is most
usually found on sickle hocks." 1t
cur be readily noticed by looking at
the leg from the side. Bog SPAWN
is a soft enlargement on the inside of
the hook. T%hOroughpin Is a smaller
enlargement extending through the
joint. where 1t can be felt in the web
of the hook. Neither bog SPAWN MOI
thorOughpin is serious unless very
large.
The stallion should possess the same
general characteristics as the mares
He should show masculinity in a strong
head. a nose inclined to be Roman rath
er than dished. a fairly heavy crest
and a large chest. In selecting a stall
lion to breed to do not pick out the
cheapest one in the neighborhood.
Five or ten dollars difference in the
service fee will mean $50 to 500 diff
ference on the price Of the colt when
1t is four years old. Ii there is not a
good stallion in your immediate neigh
borhQOd. AXE your mares ten miles Or
more if necessary. but do not use an
inferior stallion. Often fifteen or TWEEN.
ty farmers so in together aud buy
a company stallion. DO not buy a
horse that is "peddled" by a smooth
tongued agent. Such a horse is likely
to be one that could not be sold in any
other way. and you will generally pay
twice OF three times what 1t is worth.
The best plan is to organize the COM
pany first and then send a competent
man to some reliable horse establish
ment to pick out the stallion.
The Value Of q Pure Bred Stallion.
The question Of breed is largely one
Of Individual preference. If the mares
Of the neighborhood are nearly all
grades of some particular breed 1t will
pay to get a horse of that breed. Be
careful in the selection of a breed and
then stick to it. Nothing will produce
a mongrel lot of horses more quickly
than changing breeds every few years.
Above ell. get a pure bred. A. grade
may be a good enough Individual. but
he will not have the long line of i'm
proved ancestry back of him on both
sides to give him the prepotency that
a pure bred has. The grade has mon
grel blood in him. and it is bound to
crop out in his colts.
Entirely too much stress is laid Oh
the value of imported stations. For all
practical purposes home bred animals
are just Is good and can be purchased
for much less money. Size in a stall
lion is all important. A horse thai,
weighs less than q ton in breeding
condition should o be used. The
mere fact chat an animal is bred in u
foreign country n add anything
to his actual value. and the reasons
that such an importation is rated high
er than the domestic product are chief
~ sentimental. 1t is time that this
unwarranted discrimination should be
brought to an end.
Never %patronize an 0verfat stallion.
Fat is a convenient means of cover
ing defects. but 1t Is hard on the ami
mails breeding powers. When the
stallion Is not in service he should be
given plenty Of exercise, preferably at
some kind Of work that is not too Sc
we're. He should be in good condition
and good spirits when the breeding
season opens. During the breeding
season he should be given regular ex-
ercise and plenty of 1t. His feed
should consist largely Of oats. with a
little orr. and an occasional mash
with a little oilmeal added. Good,
bright timothy or clover hay in limited
quantities will make up the roughage
part Of the ration.
The stallion should be well trained
and kept under perfect control. Not
more than two mares should be served