Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-07-24

enough for all general work on the ia
By ]. NJ. BELL. virginia.>
The heavy draft has his place, 80
loes the diminuttve pony, but neither
,f 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
.ound after nineteen years of steady
work, work which included hauling
cordwood, lumber and railroad ties
over roads which we're 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 heaying and the
majority are now out of commission
from age and other i1hrmities.
"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 load for
any horse in a run across country aft
er pack of virginia hounds.
During each season and for dozen
years or more, "Oh 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.
4 seems like ste ching 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), a weeks blowing followed
by two or three days light harness
work, then few more days blowing.
next, hauling the wood tn team, to
say nothing Of the Sunday trip to
church.
It ts not ng object to gay anything
derogatary regarding the merits OF
any type OF horse. for, ras before stated,
they all have their uses.
However, in passing, It is worthy OF
note that while tho medttnm-sise horse
on the farm can do heavy work IA
proportion to his weight; yet; tho very
lheavy he1ee 10. utterly useless foe any
thing but heavy work, being eadrely
out Of place whom It cosnes 70 work In
! the saddle or in light haroaa3.
There are many farmers ItheSe GayD
who are working on the ineeasiye sys-
tenn, cuitivasing small areas OF. crops.
.sorao Of 'thesS having left ths city for
the ecunsry:s:
Their families will want the horses
to ride or drive occasionally, and nm
less these farms can keep extra horses,
,tsasas for work and aiso the pleasure
horses, let them keep those OF nedi.
nm siza weighing 1000 to I. 100 pounds.
When team OF this size Ii noe busy
at, farm work. they cap be put to the
surrey or carriage. ana make fair
allowing On the road. as 9 pleasure
team.
Beside doing considerable farm
work since have owned this horse,
have driven him regularly.
The conformation OF d Major
is most excellent from utsnaDoint Of
service; his head is well est On hia
neck. and his neck iB well set In hia
shoulders, which are strong and deeply
innscled at tho same time; his bnrre'
is,fine and round; in other words X
Is well ribbed out.
His coupling is good. his Hips wide
but not rugged. while bis loins a1a
THIGHS are indicative Of gtrongth.
Hls hooks are: good and clean O
blemdshes, iikewiss his pasteens; WITH
the exception Of slight wind puns. his
common bones arc nat end broad; hii
feet are rather small and too nsrrov
at the heels, causing him to suHer q
one time from contracted heels. ov
ing partly, no doubt, to poor and, care
less shoeing. This defect has beeI
greatly remedsed since have had hin
shod under the objection OF o compe
tent veterinary.
Ono more word about our OF
friend: Hls feed, since he was wesueo
up to the present time. was corn OF
the ear as q grain ra&ion. from IL TO i