The Elbert County tribune., 1912-02-16

(By ]. M. BELL. virginia.)
The heavy draft has his place, so
does the diminutive pony, but neither
of these extremes in horsefesh fills
the bill for general use on the farm.
One horse on our place, now In his
twenty-third year. was practically
sound after nineteen years of steady
work, work which included hauling
cordwood, lumber and railroad ties
over roads which were never of the
best, and this faithful beast did his
part day after day in all weathers
alongside of mules and other horses,
many of which were heaving and the
majority are now out of commission
from age and other infirmities.
"Old Major" as he is known
throughout the countryside. was raised
| and for 21 years belonged to the party
who raised him, and was bought by
the writer last spring.
His former owner was a country
storekeeper, farmer and wood mer-
chant, and withal a fox-hunter, weigh
ing close to 200 pounds
He and his saddle are a load for
any horse in a run across country aft
er pack of Virginia hounds.
During each season and for a dozen
years or more. "Old Major" bore his
master on hunts innumerable with
never blunder, and from the time he
was two and one-half years old until
he was sold last spring he was the
general utility animal around the
premises.
1t seems like stetching the truth to
recount the 10 years of steady work
of this remarkable horse; work under
| the saddle, in light and heavy harness,
that would have killed many heav-
Ter, or lighter horse long ago (for
there is no more wearing work than
that of the general-utility horse on
the farm). weeks plowing followed
by two or three days light harness
work, then few more days plowing,
next. hauling the wood in team. to
say nothing of the Sunday trip to
church.
1t is not my object to say anything
derogatory regarding the merits of
any type of horse, for, as before stated,
they all have their uses.
However, In passing 1t is worthy Of
note that while the medium-size horse
on the farm can do heavy work in
proportion to his weight, yet the very
heavy horse is utterly useless for any
thing but heavy work. being entirely
out of place when 1t comes to work in
the saddle or in light harness.
There are many farmers these days
who are working on the intensive sys-
! k<
some Of these having left the city for
the country.
Their families will want the horses
to ride or drive occasionally. and un-
less these farms can keep extra horses,
teams for work and also the pleasure
horses. let them keep those of medi-
um size weighing 1000 to 1.10O pounds
When team of this size is not busy
at farm work. they can be put to the
surrey or carriage and make fair
showing on the road. as a pleasure
team.
Beside doing considerable farm
work since have owned this horse. l
have driven him regularly.
The conformation of "Old Major"
Is most excellent from standpoint of
service; his head is well set on his
neck. and his neck is we'll set In his
shoulders. which are strong and deeply
muscled at the same time; his barrel
Is fine and round; in other words. he
is well ribbed out.
His coupling is good, his hips wide
but not ragged, while his loins and
thighs are indicative of strength.
His hooks are good and clean OF
blemishes, likewise his pasterns; with
the exception of slight wind puffs. his
common bones are fiat and broad; his
feet are rather small and too narrow
at the heels, causing him to suffer at
one time from contracted heels, ow-
ing partly. no doubt, to poor and care
less shoeing. This defect has been
greatly remedied since have had him
shod under the direction Of q compe-
tent veterinary.
One more word about our old
friend: His feed, since he was weaned,
up to the present time. was corn on
the ear as grain ration. from 12 to IL