LIVE STOCK BREEDERS^ ASSOCIATION. 229 



been any weakness in the family. Another thing that we don't pay enough 

 attention to, and that is, we want good mothers, good dams, of all 

 kinds of stock. You have never seen a great man that did not have a 

 good mother, a mother of ability, in some lines, either natural or ac- 

 quired; and these young men, who have not married, should bear in 

 mind that if they want their children to be an honor to them they 

 want to marry women with good minds and good morals and good an- 

 cestors and good physical development. Everything depends upon a 

 good mother— every farmer knows that. I know it from the breeding 

 of horses for the past forty years. 



THE DEMAND FOR CAVALRY HORSES. 



(John S. Bratton, dealeJ of horses and mules, National Stock Yards, 111.^ 



There is one class of horses that Missouri is particularly adapted 

 to produce; that is the cavalry horse or trooper. There never was a 

 time in the history of the United States that the government was in 

 more need of remounts than it is at the present. 



There was a contract let in Washington, January lo, for five 

 hundred mares or geldings, to be shipped to the Philippine Islands for 

 cavalry purposes. 



Missouri Well Adapted to Raising Cavalry Horses. — There is no 

 state in the Union that these horses can be bred to as good an advantage 

 than in the State of Missouri. The horse breeders of Missouri are 

 inclined to lean towards the light horse, and particularly to the riding 

 type. A great many thoroughbred stallions are scattered throughout 

 the State of Missouri. It has been demonstrated by the older govern- 

 ments, especially by England, that a cavalry horse must have a certain 

 amount of thoroughbred blood in order to be able to stand the long 

 marches and to carry the weight of a soldier with his marching outfit. 

 There is no doubt but what the thoroughbred imparts to his off-spring 

 that wonderful stamina that enables him to make longer marches with- 

 out food than any other breed. The thoroughbred sire is entirely too 

 much neglected in this country. One reason I attribute this to is 

 because he is obtainable so cheap. A good thoroughbred stallion can be 

 bought for $150.00 to $250.00; and when bred to the common farm 

 mares of Missouri he will produce good troop horses, what the gov- 

 ernment is now looking for, for which the producer can receive as a 

 four-year-old from $125.00 to $150.00. In breeding this way it will 

 be found that a great many good hunters and park hacks will also be 

 produced. 



