South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-02
DRAFT HORSES ARE
NOT BEING OUSTED.
by FARM TRACTORS
Are Still in Demand and Bring
Good Money if They are
Rightly Bred.
BY T. c. BeaII, Instructor in Animal
Husbandry, Purdue University.


It is hardly possible TO thoroughly
discuss the selection of horses in the
limits OF an article Of this sort. This
is due to the great variation in the
work that different horses are call
ed upon to do and TO the CORES
pondingly great variation in the
type of the horses themselves.
Nevertheless, there are some fac
tors that apply with nearly equal
force to horses Of all sorts. The
first thing TO be taken into account
is the fact that the horse is ma
chine Whether he is expected to
produce power or speed or 10 carry
weight he must possess certain well
defined characteristics if he is TO
prove efficient in the particular work
he is to perform.
The dizziness in the horse market
outside the demand for army horses,
of which we have heard so much in
the last few years. has been largely
due to the lack of popularity of the
equine nondescript. The good light
harness. saddle or draft horse. that
is the one really fitted 10 some par
ticular job has found ready outlet at
good prices. The important thing,
then, for the producer of horses to
do is 10 breed some type of animal
for which there is a definite de-
mand. instead Of considering him
self a horse breeder if he takes his
mares to the nearest stallion regard
less of the horses fitness.
The drafter is the type Of horse
that can be best produced by the
majority of farmers. In the first
place the draft horse is best suited
to the ever increasing weight of our
farm machinery. His docile dis
position makes him easily brought
up to breaking time and then easily
trained. During the time that the
young drafter is being broken and
trained to work he is actually more
than earning his board. He can be
put on the market in condition to top
it when younger and with less fit
ting and training than any other
type Of horse, advantages not to be
overlooked by the busy farmer.
There is still a good demand for
horses of this kind despite the trac-
tor and truck. Judging by the
numbers of breeders who have been
frightened out of business by these
very important and useful but not
quite universally adaptable inven-
hi 70 fy~ 70
for some years to come.
The drafter is unpopular in GER
tain communities because the wrong
type has been introduced there. We
must remember that the drafter is
a power machine not valuable be-
cause of his bulk of flesh He must
be big, because a strong machine
must be a big machine. In other
words great size best fits him FOR his
job as small size best fits the Shet-
land for his. There are other fac
tors to be considered, however. just
as important as size. The horse
must possess in common with all
other good horses, a clean cut head,
a fairly long muscular and alertly-
carried neck. deep chest, round deep
closely coupled body. and power
fully muscled hind quarters. Wheth-
er he is drafter or racer he must
stand upon strong. clean bone and
show round hard hoofs or he will
very quickly wear out. In short he
must show quality, if he is to prove
a really good one. The first question
asked about a trotter is How fast
can be trot?" That is his job. The
first question we should ask about
a drafter is, How much can he pull
and how fast can be move his load"
That is his job He is not to be sold
by the pound like a fat steer, even
though the first question asked by
many a breeder is. How much does
he weigh" Size is essential. With
out il we do not have the power to
move heavy loads but along with il
must be that form of body and
limb that insures smOothness and
endurance in action. After all, no
horse is valuable unless he has the
kind Of action that suits him TO his
work. whether this be the fiashy high
trot Of the park horse or the snappy
straightforward walk of the drafter
That the tool must be fitted 10 the
task is a fact that every live stock
producer should realize. When
more men see that they must decide
on the kind of animal product he
wishes 70 produce and then seeks
the kind OF animal best fitted 20 do
this we may look for rapid and en-
during progress in animal breeding