San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-08
A PROFITABLE BUSINESS

While American farmers are deplor-
inc market conditions for wheat and
other farm products, attention should be
directed to the possibilities in the horse
market The advent of the motor car
has lessened the demand for horses as
a whole but in few specialized breeds.
there is a better market than ever and
it is far from being overcrowded.
In a bulletin issued recently by the
Quartermasters Corps of the army and
the American Remount Association, the
threatened passing of the American rid
ing horse is given considerable discus
sion. So serious has this situation be-
come that the War Department has &C
quired 2S5 finely bred stations which
arc stationed at various points through
out the country. These animals are of
a type best suited for mounts such as
the army requires for its cavalry and
other mounted service. The price OF
good riding types has steadily mounted
until it is doubtful today if any other
animal rays so we'll on the average farm.
1t is not necessary to produce highly
bred, nervous, delicate type Of animal.
A good, rugged, sturdy mount is what
the army wants and any farmer can OBJ
tain breeding data from any remount
station or direct from the War Depart
ment on request.
The discontinuance of the use of
horses for most transportation in cities
and towns, the advent of good roads and
the wide use Of automobiles have re-
suited in type of horse on the average
farm that might be termed unmarked
able. Such horses as are we'll bred are
draft type suitable for heavy farm
work and of little value for any other
purpose. Certainly they are useless for
riding.
There was heavy loss of riding
horses in the world war and American
breeders, fearing the motor car, almost
stopped producing mounts. The result
was that for several years, practically
no colts were foaled that were suitable
for riding horses. The effect is being
felt now. Riding horses of even medi-
OGRE worth are almost unobtainable. The
army has been hard pressed several
times to get enough good horses for
its needs while mounted officers have
largely been compelled to buy racing
types instead of the mounts they ought
to have. Many riding horses come from
the range. Ehey usually have to be
selected very carefully because a large
percentage of them are defective. The
ideal place to produce a riding horse
is on the farm where ample feed and
water are always obtainable, where there
IS housing in severe weather and where
the horse undergoes more or less han
ding from the time it is a colt until
it is broken to the saddle.
There is ample inducement today for
the average farmer equipped to produce
riding horses, to go into the bushes:
at least as sideline TO farming. The
right kind of riding horses properl,
cared for, command cash price that i
far above the price paid for livestocl
and other farm animals. Moreover tn,
riding horse can be produced and mar
keted cheaper than any other animal ant
can be reared the first couple of year
largely on pasture and hay.
Well groomed, well broken, properl,
bred riding horses are in constant de
inand not only by the army but by rid
inQ academies Orivate individuals an,