The public ledger., 1922-03-06
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
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Washington. d. c., March $.--Tnat
the horse is holding his own in spite
of the increased use of motors is the
surprising condition revealed by ;he
Census Bureau figures. just issued
which show that there is one horse
for every house in the United States,
while only one family in four can
hope to have an automobile.
The horse census shows a total Of
u, ,s4s,0 ,06s horses in the country. Iowa
leading all other States With a total
of 1.3S6.522: with Illinois a close sec
ond, Kansas third, then Texas. Ne
braska, Minnesota and Missouri. Only
six in every thousand horses. however,
are pure-tred.
The government is giving practical
assistance to farmers and breeders in
improving the breed of American
horses. through the RemCunt Service
Of the Army which, last year. supplied
the use OF 100 highly bred stations
purchased at a cost of $4,000, by Con-
gressional appropriation. The num-
ber was further augmented through
the donation of IS pure-bred stations
valued conservatively at s25o.00O, by
members OF the American Remount
Association.
This Association. an independent
organization of owners. breeders ana
others interested in the breeding OF
better horses and mules, is actively
working to effect the development of
d larger supply of well-bred horses.
To this end, the Association lends it's
support materially to all forms OF
mounted sports. such as horseback
riding, polo playing, racing. horse
shows, hunt-meets and state and coun-
ty fairs. through the distribution OF
cups and cash prizes. II also watches
legislative interests of breeders and
owners, disseminates information on
breeding and endeavors to encourage
the commercial use of horses.
while the number of horses in the
country at present is sufficient and
our draft stock unsurpassed, there is
woeful shortage of good horses
said A. A. Cederwald, secretary Of
the Association, here recently. This
Is evident from the demand and the
prices at which the best sell, while the
inferior ones cannot be sold for what
it has cost to raise them
This is the age of efficiency in ev-
erything and this applies as strongly
to the horse as to anything else. The
demand is for the horse that can do
the Job efficiently and economically,
pulling a heavy load or working under
the saddle. If one is breeding draft
horses, he should produce the best
draft horses possible, and If breeding
riding horses, he should produce the
best riding horses possible.
"The production Of the high-class
riding horse is of paramount import
ance at the present time on account
of the dearth Of such horses in this
country. II an Emergency should arise,
the problem of obtaining horses to
mount our Army would be one of the
most serious problems confronting
purchasing officers.
agents are continually securing
the country for saddle horses for park
and show-ring use, for cross country
work and for polo mounts, and cattle
ranchers are having serious difficulty
IN HndIng suitable horses fer their
cowboys.
"Thc only solution for both the
Army and commercial demands Is the
production OF the right kind OF ami
mails for these various kinds Of work,
all OF which demand the highest type
OF riding horses, To produce This kind
rekuires the utmost care In the selec-
tion OF both stallion and brood mares.
The Remouni Service Is supplying a
limited number OF the right kind OF
stations Ia communities suited 10 the
production OF the riding horse and the
selection Of the mares 10 be- bred 10
these stations should receive tho
greatest consideration,