The sun., 1919-05-27
EASTERN CANADA
In NEED OF HORSES
Toronto Dealers Say They Can
Dispose of More Than They
Can Procure.

Whatever may be the condition of
the horse business In the west OF Canada
there Is little chance OF doubt as to the
keenness of demand for all classes Of
horses in the east, especially the Mari
time Provinces, judging by the ship
ments made during the past few weeks
from sales stables in Toronto, says the
Mod and Empire OF that city and deal
ers claim that they could dispose of
far more animals than they can secure
One firm alone has sold an average
OF $50 head OF all classes of horses each
week ever since spring opened, and a
conservative estimate places the num-
Der OF horses handled In Toronto in
one week at from 700 to 500 head
or these fully 80 per cent. are fresh
young horses direct from the farms, and
Ontario farmers are responsible for the
raising OF the great majority OF them.
Evidence that the tractor is not hav-
ing 1t all its own way on the farm is
provided in the fact that the demand
at this season is largely for farm
chunks to go on the land. and among
the purchasers at the sales stables can
be noticed a Hprinkling of returned men
who are just now being esta blished on
farms in the province.
Horse users in the city are also TAX
ing a fair share of the animals offered.
especially those of the light delivery type,
and the dealers point with satisfaction
to the fact that the firms whose bust
ness consists chiefly of short hauls
and package delivery. still maiptain a
preference for the horse as means OF
traction.
Prices vary as much as does the
quality Of the horses offered; as great
difference as s75 existing between
ha nf
of from 1850 to 1850 pounds, with
5000 as the top. AS usual the dealers
are asking for greater numbers of ami
mails OF better quality, and affirm that
any number OF the right sort can be dis
posed of at prices satisfactory to the
breeders. This applies to all types up
to the real heavy draught, and for ami
mails weighing around 1900 pounds the
owner can pretty nearly set his own
figure.
A noticeable feature OF the demand
for all classes OF horses at the present
time is that quality talks louder than
ever, while for heavy work greater size
than ever is requested. As regards this
matter of size in drafters. horseman OF
many years experience as breeder.
worker and seller said last week that
the one thing lacking in the stallion
enrolment requirements In the province
is n rule insisting on sufficient size In
the heavy draught breeds.
Quality, he admitted, had improved of
late years. but such Is tho shortage of
real heavy horses on the Continent at
the present time that even in Chicago
the buyers cannot select more than five
or six head in a week that come up to
full requirements.
More heavy horses are shipped into
the American market than to the Ca
madam markets. but u great deal of their
weight consists of fat, the American
farmers being better finishers than the
Canadian. To fill the requirements OF
the city trade in heavy horses In Cam
ada, an animal Of absolute size and sub
stance Is needed. Canadian heavy horse
men cannot be satisfied by weight alone
unless it is contained largely in the
bone.
The trend OF the demand for horses
In eastern Canada Just now indicates
the advsability OF breeding not only
heavy draughts. as has been SO generally
recommended for some years past, but
also horses OF the lighter breeds. The
one thing most needed. as mentioned
above, seems to be high quality.
In addition to the demand In Canada,
there is n chance OF business In export,
though II is doubtful whether the lat
ter demand will continue for any great
length OF time. That at least some
chance Of disposlng of horses in Europe
exists, Is indicated by the fact that four
head OF work horses weighing around
1900 pounds were purchased at one
Toronto sales stable last week to be
sent TO Belgium along with a shipment
OF cattle.