280 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ter horse," which is somewhat heavier and shows less quality. The 

 other classes which are recognized on the market are horses which 

 fall between these classes, or are blemished or unsound, and for that 

 reason are rejected. 



Although Missouri is one of the foremost States in the pro- 

 duction of horses, there are still evidences of carelessness in the 

 horse breeding operations. A more thorough study of the prin- 

 ciples of breeding and a more definite object in view when animals 

 are mated would result in vast improvement in the horse stock of 

 the State. That it is impossible to obtain good offspring from in- 

 ferior or unsound breeding stock is a fact which every horse breeder 

 ought to know, and to which he should pay close attention. Breed- 

 ers should also realize that it is contrary to the laws of nature to 

 produce superior animals from violent outcrosses or the crossing 

 of animals of different breeds. To produce stock of the best class 

 one should first decide what class of horses will be best suited to his 

 own individual needs, and which will, when marketed, fit one of the 

 better classes. He should then be persistent and determined in his 

 efforts to breed horses which fulfill his ideal. 



In producing the draft horse, good sound mares with as much 

 of the blood of some one draft breed as possible should be chosen 

 and mated with stallions of the same breed. The offspring from 

 this mating should be mated with another stallion of the same 

 kind, and after three or four successive crosses the stock of horses 

 produced can not be other than high class horses, if they have been 

 properly cared for and good judgment has been used in handling 

 them. 



The same principle applies to all classes of horses. In breed- 

 ing coach horses select mares of that type with as much of the blood 

 of some of the coach breeds as possible, and after three or four top 

 crosses have been made the results will be very evident. In the 

 production of light harness horses or saddlers the same principle 

 bjolds true and should be followed closely. 



The reputation of Missouri as a horse breeding State has been 

 gained by the light horses it has produced. The native stock in 

 many parts of the State is well graded up with American trotting 

 horses, saddlers and thoroughbreds. In those parts of the State 

 the people have found these horses better adapted to their con- 

 ditions, and should take advantage of the good mares which pos- 

 sess four or five top crosses of trotting horse or saddle horse blood 

 and mate them with the best available stallions of their respective 

 breeds. Then, with good care and handling, the percentage of 



