SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 481 



contracted — are not, as a rule, desirable for breeding purposes. The wear- 

 ing qualifications of the individual hoi'se depend largely upon the char- 

 acter of his hoofs. The price, when it comes time to market him, will as 

 largely depend upon the same point. The buyer discriminates against 

 all forms of disease and weakness of the foot and the horse that is of 

 superior quality "at the ground" will sell for an appreciative price on 

 that acount. 'Foot sore" mares may be safely used for breeding purposes 

 provided the condition of their hoofs is not due to actual hereditary dis- 

 ease, or an inherent susceptibility thereto. If the feet are simply weak 

 and worn from prolonged service rnd the bad. effects of continued shoeing, 

 these conditions will not be likely to descend to the progeny. In selecting 

 such mares, however, care should be taken to decide that the weak con- 

 diitons have not early appeared as the result of bad conformation. 

 Stallions having very wide, shallow, flat feet beget progeny prone to foot 

 troubles and especially to sidebones. Where it can be avoided such horses 

 should not be bred to and they should in every case, be free from side- 

 bones. If due care is taken to breed from sires and dams having sound, 

 well formed, fully developed feet the progeny will usually inherit the ten- 

 dency to develop feet of similar excellence and the owner should then 

 see to it that the hoofs are trained in the way they shoudl grow while the 

 colt is developing. 



Sound hoofs are the product of breeding, as has been stated, but it 

 is necessary also to feed nitrogenous food, including oats and bran, seeing 

 that horn is a product of the protein elements of the ration (keratin) 

 and does not so perfectly develop when corn is the chief grain utilized in 

 the feeding of growing animals. Low-lying, wet, alluvial, humus-rich soil, 

 and the classes of food there produced are somewhat unfavorable for the 

 production of dense tough, good-wearing hoof horn. Mineral matters 

 in the soil, food and drinking water favor sound hoof production. 

 Breeding stock should be selected that is of the right type for the 

 production of the class of horses desired, and in addition to rejecting 

 unsound and imperfect animals those of bad temper, intractable disposi- 

 tion, or other objectionable trait should likewise be avoided. 



We recognize the fact that absolutely perfect animals can rearly, if 

 ever, be found and that of our breeders can afford to respect breeding 

 stocK for small and unimportant defects. There can, however, be not the 

 slighest dougt that it would be to the great advantage of each breeder, 

 and to the horse-breeding industry of the state, were all actually unsound 

 and notably unsuitable stallions and mares rigorously rejected when 

 selecting breeding stock. 



IMPORTAXCE OF GEXEROUS FEEDING. 



In seeking to improve our horse stock, breeding a»i selection makes 

 success possible, but will fail wholly or partially unless animals of all 

 ages and stages of development, used as material in the operation, are at 

 all times provided with a full supply of the most suitable food. Many a 

 man has fallen short of success in breeding by depending upon blood 



